Salsify plant profile
Tragopogon porrifolius
A biennial vegetable for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Salsify
Salsify is a biennial root crop you direct sow for a long season. NC State Extension says to sow it in late summer or early winter; University of Arkansas says to plant in late spring or summer, about 100 days before freezing, in deep, well-prepared soil.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Salsify in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Lifecycle
- Biennial
- Spacing
- 12 in apart
- Days to maturity
- 90 to 120 days (from sowing)
Common problems
Watch for these
Also watch for: white rust.
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Tragopogon porrifolius (Salsify)
NC State Extension (NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox). Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.
- Salsify (Home Gardening Series, FSA6094)
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service. Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.