How to Grow

How to Grow Scorzonera | Planting & Establishment

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How to Grow Scorzonera | Planting & Establishment guide thumbnail

Scorzonera (Scorzonera hispanica)

A long black-skinned scorzonera root — “Scorzonera hispanica sl166” by Stefan.lefnaer is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons

6 sources cited · Verified

The short answer

Ready in
120–120 days
Site
soil pH 6–7.5
Biggest risk
White blister

In the UK, scorzonera are ready to harvest 120–120 days after planting.

Scorzonera (Scorzonera hispanica) — perennial.

Unlike an annual crop, the work here is front-loaded into establishment: get the planting and the site right and the same plants crop for several seasons.

Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.

Soil & Growing Conditions

A scorzonera plant growing in the ground — “Scorzonera hispanica sl12” by Stefan.lefnaer is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Scorzonera hispanica sl12” by Stefan.lefnaer is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Soil pH range

6 7.5

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

A rosette of broad strap-shaped scorzonera leaves — “Scorzonera hispanica Wężymord czarny korzeń 2016-05-02 01” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Scorzonera hispanica Wężymord czarny korzeń 2016-05-02 01” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Stage BBCH Notes
Sowing and germination 0 Sow the freshest seed available in situ in autumn or in spring once the soil has warmed, about 1.5cm deep in rows 30cm apart, into deep stone-free soil (First Tunnels, GrowVeg).
Thinning and establishment 1 Thin seedlings to about 10-15cm apart; a sunny spot in moist but well-drained sandy or loamy soil gives the longest, straightest roots (First Tunnels).
Root bulking 4 A slow crop needing roughly 150-180 days from sowing to harvest; keep the bed weed-free while the roots thicken (First Tunnels).
Harvest and overwintering 4 Lift from about November after the first frosts, which improve the flavour. Roots are brittle: sink a fork about 15cm from the plant and ease it back and forth on both sides before lifting. Roots keep in the ground through December to February, or store in boxes of damp sand (GrowVeg, First Tunnels).

Quick Facts

A long black-skinned scorzonera root — “Scorzonera hispanica sl166” by Stefan.lefnaer is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Scorzonera hispanica sl166” by Stefan.lefnaer is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Factor Value
Soil pH 6 - 7.5
Time to harvest 120-120 days
Drainage Deep, fine-textured, well-drained
Lifecycle perennial
Edible parts root, leaves, flower buds

At a Glance

A long black-skinned scorzonera root — “Scorzonera hispanica sl166” by Stefan.lefnaer is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Scorzonera hispanica sl166” by Stefan.lefnaer is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Scorzonera hispanica Scorzonera White blister (Asterace… Aphids DISEASES PESTS

Harvest & Storage

A bunch of freshly lifted raw scorzonera roots — “Schwarzwurzeln roh” by Benreis is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Schwarzwurzeln roh” by Benreis is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

When to pick: USU: "requires about a 120-day growing season"; harvest roots "in fall (or early spring after overwintering)"; roots "very hardy and are not damaged by freezing so roots can be dug, topped, and stored or left in the garden until needed". RHS notes ideal conditions for long roots are a sunny spot in moist but well-drained sandy or loamy soil.

Storage

Roots very hardy, can be left in ground over winter or dug, topped and stored

Diseases

Bright yellow scorzonera flowers — “Scorzonera hispanica sl31” by Stefan.lefnaer is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Scorzonera hispanica sl31” by Stefan.lefnaer is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
White blister (Asteraceae: salsify/scorzonera/sunflower)

Pustula tragopogonis (syn. Albugo tragopogonis)

Pests

A rosette of broad strap-shaped scorzonera leaves — “Scorzonera hispanica Wężymord czarny korzeń 2016-05-02 01” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Scorzonera hispanica Wężymord czarny korzeń 2016-05-02 01” by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Aphididae (various spp.)

References

  1. country=USA

  2. Scorzonera hispanica is a herbaceous perennial native to southern Europe and western Asia, with long black edible roots of good nutritional value and a mild, slightly sweet flavour. Easily raised from seed sown in situ in autumn or spring, using the freshest seed possible; sow in spring as soon as the soil has warmed, about 1.5cm deep in rows 30cm apart, aiming for about 10cm between plants. Ideal conditions for long roots are a sunny spot in moist but well-drained sandy or loamy soil; needs 150-180 days from sowing to harvest and deep, stone-free soil for straight roots. Harvest from November after the first frosts; roots left in the ground stay in good condition through December, January and February, and frost improves the flavour.

  3. country=INTL

  4. country=UK

  5. Directly fetched and verified. RHS explicitly does not recommend pesticide use against aphids; recommends tolerance, manual squashing, and encouraging/purchasing natural predators (ladybirds, hoverflies, lacewings, parasitoid wasps, earwigs) as biological control, especially under glass.

  6. country=USA

6 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do scorzonera take to grow?

Typically 120–120 days, depending on cultivar and growing conditions.

What soil pH do scorzonera need?

A pH of about 6–7.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.

What problems affect scorzonera?

Our data links 1 disease and 1 pest to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.

Plan next season before the problems start

This page gives you the thresholds; the planner turns them into your own calendar. It works from what you can observe and measure in your garden rather than from dates written for somebody else’s latitude.

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SoilCommander Editorial Team

Science-based growing guides · Thresholds that hold in any climate

This guide states the conditions the plant itself responds to — soil temperature, frost tolerance, day length — rather than dates, because the same calendar month means opposite seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres. Anything genuinely restricted to one part of the world is named as such rather than presented as universal. Written and maintained by our editorial team against international horticultural research and extension sources.

Vegetable Growing Guides

Last verified 2026-09-02

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