When to Plant Salsify in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Cold / Highland
In October the Cold / Highland zone normally runs 20°C by day and 7°C overnight, with about 58 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -6.4°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 15 postcodes, SILO.
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This Salsify guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Sep to Dec
- Days to harvest
- about 17 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 12 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.5
Salsify is an uncommon but rewarding root vegetable known as the 'vegetable oyster' for its mild oyster-like flavour when cooked.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep D
- Oct D
- Nov D
- Dec D
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cold / Highland zone right now, Salsify included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Salsify in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- Deep, loose, stone-free soil. Dig to at least 30-40cm depth. Light sandy loam is ideal. Avoid heavy clay or stony soil which causes forked, stubby roots. Prepare with well-rotted compost dug in deeply.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun to light shade
- Spacing
- 12cm apart, 35cm between rows
- Watering
- Consistent moisture throughout the long growing season. Deep watering once or twice weekly. Irregular watering causes tough, woody roots.
- Good companions
- Dwarf Beans, Lettuce, Onion, Carrot, Spinach
- Keep away from
- Burdock
- Grow before it
- Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)
- Grow after it
- Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
Give the bed 3 turns before root crops go back in. Roots fork and go leafy in fresh manure, so they take the bed after the heavy feeders have used it.
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Salsify
Recommended Varieties
- Mammoth Sandwich Island
- Scorzonera
Key Challenges
- Short growing season for a slow crop
- Cold soil delays germination
Pro Tips
- Start as early as possible after last frost
- Scorzonera can be left in the ground over winter and harvested in year two for larger roots
- Mulch heavily for winter protection if leaving in ground
Pests and problems for Salsify in Cold / Highland
Harvesting Salsify
When ready: Roots are at least 2-3cm diameter at the crown and 20-30cm long. White salsify: foliage begins to yellow in late autumn. Scorzonera: can be harvested in first year or left for a larger second-year harvest.
How to harvest: Dig deeply alongside the root with a fork (at least 30cm deep). Lift very gently. Salsify roots are thin, long, and snap extremely easily. Never pull by the foliage. Water the bed beforehand to soften soil. Cut foliage to 2cm. Do not scrub. Just brush off loose soil.
Storing and preserving salsify
How to keep it
- Refrigerator Storage. Wrap unwashed roots in damp paper towels inside a plastic bag. Store in crisper drawer. Keeps: 1-2 weeks.
- Freezing. Scrub, peel (salsify discolours rapidly, drop peeled pieces into lemon water immediately). Cut into chunks. Blanch 2-3 minutes. Ice bath, drain. Freeze on trays then bag. Keeps: 10-12 months.
- In-Ground Storage. Leave roots in the ground and harvest as needed through winter. Mulch for frost protection. This is the best method as roots deteriorate quickly once harvested. Keeps: 4-6 months in ground (through winter).
- Sand Storage. Harvest carefully. Do not wash. Layer in damp sand in boxes. Store at 1-4C in a dark, cool place. Keeps: 2-3 months.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Salsify
When do you plant salsify in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jul
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to May
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to May, Aug to Oct
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to May
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to Jun, Aug to Sep
Can you grow salsify all year round in Canberra?
No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Sep to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Salsify in Canberra?
Sow direct in spring into deeply dug, stone-free soil. Roots size up by autumn and can stay in the ground through winter to be dug as needed.
What soil temperature do Salsify need?
Salsify germinate best when soil temperature is between 10°C and 30°C.
How do I know when Salsify are ready to harvest?
Roots are at least 2-3cm diameter at the crown and 20-30cm long. White salsify: foliage begins to yellow in late autumn. Scorzonera: can be harvested in first year or left for a larger second-year harvest.
What are the best Salsify varieties for Canberra?
Recommended varieties for the Cold / Highland zone include: Mammoth Sandwich Island, Scorzonera.
What grows well with Salsify?
Good companion plants for Salsify include: Dwarf Beans, Lettuce, Onion, Carrot, Spinach.
Are salsify salt tolerant?
Only a little. Salsify are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.