Content
The salsify is used as a medicinal, vegetable, fodder and ornamental plant. The leaves of the crop are similar to those of oats, which is why it is popularly called oat root.
In cooking, the raw materials of this plant are added to dietary dishes; they can often be found in fields
Botanical description of the species
The salsify is a herbaceous, biennial plant. It belongs to the Asteraceae family. The stems contain milky juice, which is used in folk medicine. The salsify reaches a height of 1-2 m. The flowers are purple and collected in baskets.
In the first year of flowering, salsify leaves grow in the shape of a rosette.
The plant blooms in September and ripens in August. The flower tastes sweet. Grows in Siberia, Mediterranean countries and North Africa.
The fruit of the salsify is yellow, smooth, and cylindrical in shape. It is covered with a dense peel, which, when broken, extracts juice.
Application in landscape design
Oat root has beautiful and colorful flowers. For this reason, they are often used to decorate areas of houses.The plant should be placed in places where there is a lot of sun so that it does not end up in the shade.
Often, purple crops are planted along paths, partitions, and between groups of other flowers. The oat root visually separates the zones on the site.
A garden with many such flowers looks bright and rich
Landing rules
The salsify is planted in late April, early May, July or late October. It is recommended to choose well-lit, moisture-rich and soft soil for planting. In clay areas the plant will grow tough and unsuitable for food. The soil should not contain acids or alkalis. This harms the plant.
Holes for planting are prepared in advance, at the beginning of autumn: potassium sulfate and wood ash are added to the ground. You can also use vegetables and berries as fertilizer. This increases productivity. It is recommended to feed the soil in July.
The preparation of the land does not end there. In spring, urea is poured into the beds. Oatroot loves cold weather. It begins to grow at temperatures from 2 to 6 degrees.
Before planting, salsify seeds are soaked for 14 hours in a special solution that stimulates growth.
The seeds of the horned salsify should be planted according to the following scheme: the distance between holes should be about 30 cm, and between rows 14 cm. After planting the plant, all beds are covered with film and left for 2 weeks. After this, they remove it and wait for the next stage of sowing, which begins in July. By this time, the plant is saturated with moisture and grows stronger.
Features of cultivation
Two weeks after planting, weeding begins. To avoid this, you can add mustard seeds to the soil, for example. They emerge already on the fourth day after planting and divide the rows. It also gives the plant additional vitamins.
After 2 weeks, salsify leaves are separated from each other and the soil is weeded. It is recommended to repeat weeding several times according to the growth of the rhizome.
During dry periods, the roots especially need additional moisture. Therefore, at this time, salsify needs to be watered rarely, but abundantly.
Use in cooking
The leek-leaved salsify is not only healthy, but also delicious. It contains several valuable substances:
- A, groups B, C, PP;
- proteins, fats;
- phosphorus, iron, potassium.
Most often, the plant is cooked together with vegetables, seafood, and cheese. As a preparation, the poreleaf root is grated and added to horseradish.
It is popular to harvest salsify roots immediately after harvesting. However, it should be collected in mid or late November. After harvesting, the plant is soaked in cold water with salt and citric acid. This will relieve the roots of bitterness.
You can use the leaves, roots, and stems of the plant for food. They are boiled, steamed, fried. You can often find the leafy part of salsify in salads. Before cutting the leaves, you need to squeeze the milky juice out of the plant.
Sometimes the poreleaf root is used as a side dish instead of potatoes or cabbage.The active substances of the flower contain a large amount of inulin, which is useful for patients with diabetes.
When cooked, salsify tastes salty. Oat root is useful for weight loss, so it is added to dietary salads.
There are many recipes for dishes with salsify. For the root casserole you will need the following ingredients:
- oat roots 500 g;
- one onion;
- 4 eggs;
- salt;
- sunflower oil.
The main ingredient is boiled until cooked and placed in a baking dish, previously greased with sunflower oil. Next, beaten eggs and onion are added to the roots. Place the pan with the ingredients in an oven preheated to 180 degrees. The dish is cooked for 20 minutes.
You can make a drink to maintain body tone. The only ingredients you need are salsify. The dried roots of the plant are fried in a dry frying pan. Afterwards they are crushed in a blender and filled with hot water. The drink will taste better if you add cream.
Conclusion
Salsify is a rich source of sugar, proteins, and vitamins. The plant attracts the eye with its bright colors, so it is often used to decorate areas of houses and cottages. The culture is not picky about weather conditions and loves the cold. The main thing when growing oat root is to follow the planting rules.
