Kitchen Garden Forum

A few years ago I grew either salsify or scorzonera - to be honest, I can't remember which.
Shortly before harvesting, I came across an article on it where the grower said, wryly, that it could be a rather 'windy' vegetable. I kept this information to myself when feeding it to 'him indoors', not wanting to put ideas into his head. However, without going into too much detail, it wasn't long before he was in absolute agony. The warning had been, if anything, an understatement.
I'm posting this for three reasons:
1. I wondered, is this reaction very common?
2. Does anyone have any idea which of the two veg it was most likely to have been, since I can't remember and don't want to make the same mistake again?
3. As a warning to any unsuspecting first-time growers of the veg in question!

Hi Caz,
I am trying salsify this year as we were given some to try by friends this year. Can't say I noticed any adverse effects, but then we didn't eat much. Perhaps the answer is just to eat in small quantities. However I am forewarned if we have a bumper crop!!
Hilary

I grew scorzonera a few years ago, and after one portion dug up the rest of the crop and composted it. (and thats the first time I've seen a compost bin hover).

The substance that causes the wind is inulin, also found in salsify and jerusalem artichokes.

Incidentally it is also used as a food additive to make crispy food crispier and creamy food creamier, which might explain why some processed food also has a bad effect.

A certain ammount of research, and vivid recall of the facts, as the effects of the damn stuff were most unpleasant and I want to avoid it.

As with all these things susceptibility varies between people, but don't feed it to anyone with out getting them to sign a disclaimer.

Hi Di,
What a shame to get rid of Scorzonera as in their second year they come up to flower. The heads if picked just before they get to the bloom but have swelled make the most wonderful eating. Poor mans Asparagus it used to be known as! Picked with about 4" of stork then tied in bundles and steamed then eaten with melted butter. Scrumptious!
JB.

Di wrote:The substance that causes the wind is inulin

Amazing what you learn - Thanks Di! I made use of inulin during my univeristy 2nd year project many years ago (" The effects of tidal estuary water on lugworms" - don't ask!). At least now I know where it comes from.

Asafoetida is a type of Fennel and in powdered form it is used to relieve/prevent flatulence caused by eating Jerusalem artichoke, salsify, scorzonera, etc.

After enjoying roasted Jerusalem artichokes, we were all suffering the consequences and I made a point of putting the Asafoetida on my shopping list. Unfortunately I haven't found anywhere that sells it around here. I wonder if it is sold in Indian supermarkets as it is supposedly a widely used Indian herb.

Inulin is said to be very good for restoring beneficial intestinal flora - pity about the wind.

Oh and I've got some salsify to sow as soon as the weather warms up a bit, so it looks like I'll have to get some asafoetida before I try that too. I'd heard that Salsify contained Inulin, but hadn't thought about the side-effects until you mentioned it.

Think what fun you could have with unwanted visitors - Jerusalem artichokes followed by salsify and scorzonera.

Plumpudding,

the fun with the unwanted visitors would only be fun if they left your place soon after eating!

for true malice, try including it in a curry...

Dear JB,
thats a good tip about the flowers, but at that time I hadn't enough space to allow anything two years. Now maybe will try sowing some in a less used space on the boundary and see whether they make it to flowering in 2010.

For anyone else interested in asafoetida like Plumpudding, you can get it from here

I'd guess it would work best in Indian cookery, since it's quite pungent stuff. Don't know if that's appropriate for salsify or scorzonera.

I grow both as well as J. artichokes. We've recently had a marvellous roast with lots of different root veg from the plaot, and we are remarkably wind-free. Just as well; there's enough outdoors! Maybe all that mint tea helped.

I agree with everything JB says about scorzonera, and this year all the salsify and scorzonera I sow will be from seed I saved from last year's plants.

mike

Hi Mike,
If you saved all the seeds you should have about a couple of million. Strangely neither Salsify or Scozonera seem to self set with me. The amount of plants that were just left to go to seed you would imagine that they may be a problem but I cannot recall ever encountering a self set plant. Somehow I find this to be against the odds. I had a heart attack some years ago and was unable to dig or even clear my beds and I had Carrots, Parsnips, Swiss Chard and Perpetual Spinach seeds popping up all over the plot for about three years but never Salsify or Scozonera. I wonder why!
JB.

I've had a lot of salsify this year - but I didn't sow any! Perhaps those who can't chit parsnips have a special effect on salsify and scorzonera which causes them to self-seed in all directions.

But no, JB, I didn't save ALL the seeds, just from 3 or 4 plants. I've now sown a couple of short rows and will sow more at the end of April and then again in mid-May.

mike

Hi Mike,
Could be, could be! However I suspect that it has more to do with the amount of Mice that live on the plot. The size of Salsify and Scorzonera seeds are at least twice the size of all the others. Mice with big eyes me thinks!
I almost feel guilty having suggested how easy it was to chit Parsnip seeds and I hope that what you have sown direct will be enough. The White Gem that are just begining to throw out radicles were just a bog standard packet from Mr Fothergill. I suppose you pays your money and takes your chance!
JB.