Oat root: cultivation, use, medicinal properties. Oat root: properties and cultivation

Oat root ( Tragopogon porrifolius L.) is a biennial plant from the family Asteraceae, or Asteraceae. Two forms of oat root are known in culture.

Features of agricultural technology

Agricultural technology for oat root is simple. On mineral, poor soils, complete fertilizer is applied before sowing - 3 c ammonium nitrate, 3-4 quintals of superphosphate and 2-3 quintals of potassium salt per 1 ha.

Due to its cold resistance, oat root can be sown very early. The earlier the sowing is done, the faster the seedlings appear. On large areas sowing is carried out with row spacing of 15-30 cm.

Our advice:

To achieve uniform sowing, the seeds are mixed with fine compost or peat (in a ratio of 1:10) and sown to a depth of 2 cm. Only proven seeds should be sown, as they do not retain germination well.

It is better to use fresh seeds obtained in the previous year for sowing. When the first 2-3 leaves are formed, the plants are thinned by 10-15 cm in the row.

In the first year, the plant produces long, cone-shaped, fleshy roots with a rosette of long, wheatgrass-like leaves.

In the second year, a stem 80-120 cm high appears. The stems branch and end in heads with purple-violet flowers. Flowering at the oat root is extended and lasts about two months. The flowers are self-pollinating, but cross-pollination of the oat root with wild salsify is possible.

In rich soils, good root crops can be obtained by thinning the plants to a distance of 8-10 cm. Further care caring for plants consists mainly of weeding and loosening the soil.

Summer sowing of oat root

Oat root can also be sown in summer with freshly harvested seeds, in middle lane- in July, in the south - in August. By autumn, young plants grow, they overwinter and begin to grow early.

With a two-year culture, you can get large roots.

During summer sowing, and especially spring, a certain number of flowering plants appear that need to be removed.

When should oat roots be harvested?

Harvesting begins late in the fall, and part of the crop is left undug for spring use.

The ripening of seeds is very extended, so they are collected in several stages as they ripen. Seeds remain viable for 2-3 years. Weight of 1000 seeds - 10 g.

Oat root can overwinter in open ground.

Medicinal properties

The plant is grown to obtain fleshy roots, which contain inulin, which is extremely necessary for people who are sick. diabetes mellitus.

As you know, diabetes mellitus is caused by an absolute or relative deficiency in the human body of the hormone insulin, produced by the beta cells of the pancreas.

The treatment of diabetes mellitus is based on normalizing impaired carbohydrate metabolism, eliminating sugar in the urine, and reducing its level in the blood.

The main methods of treatment are insulin administration, the use of hypoglycemic drugs, and diet.

It is herbal medicines and diet that can be used by patients with mild and latent forms of diabetes mellitus and people with prediabetes.

Use of oat root in cooking

Delicious dishes are prepared from oat root vegetables:

  • Before cooking, the roots are cleaned and immediately placed in cold water, acidified with vinegar so that they do not darken.
  • Boil root vegetables in salted boiling water for 20-30 minutes until softened.
  • After cooking, the water is allowed to drain and the root vegetables are seasoned with various sauces or fried.

Our advice:

Boiled roots can also be seasoned with butter and parsley and onion.

Lyubov Dudchenko, Candidate of Biological Sciences
© Ogorodnik magazine
Photo: depositphotos.com

Oat root or salsify ( white root, winter asparagus) is a biennial herbaceous plant family Asteraceae. Refers to vegetable crops. Distributed in Europe and Asia, North America and Africa, and in other countries it is grown in gardens and vegetable gardens for ornamental, culinary and medicinal purposes. In Russia, meadow salsify is found in the wild.

In the first year of life, the oat root forms a rosette of lanceolate leaves and a succulent root crop, and in the second year the plant produces a peduncle - at this time the root becomes unsuitable for use for food and medicinal purposes. Salsify blooms with yellow or purple basket-like inflorescences, which open their petals only in the morning. Despite the fact that the oat root does not bloom as often or as much as others ornamental plants, gardeners love it for its beautiful decorative foliage.

Blank

IN folk medicine All parts of the plant are used: stems, leaves, flowers, roots.
The grass is harvested before the plant blooms: cut with pruning shears and dried in a well-ventilated area, avoiding direct sunlight. Flower baskets are collected during flowering. The dried raw materials are crushed and stored in a tightly closed container for 2 years.

Root harvesting is carried out in the fall, choosing annual plants: They are carefully dug up, cleared of soil and dried. In their raw form, salsify root vegetables are stored like carrots, but for a very short time.

Compound

Oat root is rich in: PP and B vitamins, iron, phosphorus, selenium, magnesium, potassium, as well as bitterness, inulin (a low-calorie carbohydrate), protein, fats, easily digestible carbohydrates and fiber.
Oat root has antiseptic, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, urinary and choleretic effects.
Traditional medicine recommends oat root for:

  • cold;
  • cough and bronchitis;
  • urolithiasis;
  • cardiovascular diseases;
  • internal and postpartum bleeding;
  • gout, rheumatism;
  • poor appetite;
  • diabetes mellitus;
  • nervous system disorders;
  • decreased potency in men;
  • skin diseases (ulcers, ulcers, etc.);
  • bad breath;
  • poisoning with radioactive substances;
  • for cancer prevention.

For diabetes and diseases for which dietary food is recommended, oat root is recommended for regular nutrition. Root vegetables and young leaves of the plant are used for food.

Recipes

Infusion (general recipe):

  • 1 tbsp. oat root herbs;
  • 200 ml boiling water.

Oat root infusion has a calming, anti-allergic and blood purifying effect. Pour boiling water over the herb and let it brew for 6 hours. Strain the resulting infusion and divide into 8 doses - 1 tablespoon each during the day.
This infusion can also be used externally: as a hair rinse against dandruff and used for baths against swelling and rheumatism.

Decoction:

  • 1 tbsp. oat root;
  • 200 ml boiling water.

Grind the root of the plant, pour boiling water over it and boil for 15 minutes. Strain the finished broth and take 1 tablespoon 4 times a day. The decoction will help with cough and bronchitis.
Decoction for kidney disease:

  • 1 tbsp. salsify leaves;
  • 1 tbsp. chopped salsify root;
  • 200 ml boiling water.

Pour boiling water over the plant material and boil for 5 minutes. Remove the broth from the heat, wait for it to cool, and strain. Take 3 tablespoons twice a day.
To prevent scurvy, it is recommended to add young oat root leaves to dishes. To prevent the leaves from becoming bitter, they should be beaten thoroughly.

The juice of the oat root or the root itself, grated, is used to relieve irritations and allergic skin rashes.

From boiled salsify root you can prepare a nourishing face mask (suitable for sensitive skin).

Crushed leaves of salsify, applied directly to the affected areas, treat ulcers, wounds, and ulcers.
Salsify, infused with alcohol, is used for rinsing when bad smell from mouth.
Tincture:

  • 100 g of fresh salsify roots;
  • 1 liter of alcohol.

Peel the oat root, cut it into pieces and fill it with alcohol in a glass container. Place the container with the mixture in a dark place for 10 days. Strain the finished tincture.

Contraindications

  • children;
  • pregnant women and nursing mothers;
  • with individual intolerance and tendency to allergic reactions.

Fig, fig, fig tree - these are all names of the same plant, which we firmly associate with Mediterranean life. Anyone who has ever tasted fig fruits knows how delicious they are. But, in addition to their delicate sweet taste, they are also very beneficial for health. And here's an interesting detail: it turns out that figs are completely unpretentious plant. In addition, it can be successfully grown on a plot in the middle zone or in a house - in a container.

Quite often, difficulties in growing tomato seedlings arise even among experienced summer residents. For some, all the seedlings turn out to be elongated and weak, for others, they suddenly begin to fall and die. The thing is that it is difficult to maintain ideal conditions for growing seedlings in an apartment. Seedlings of any plants need to be provided with plenty of light, sufficient humidity and optimal temperature. What else do you need to know and observe when growing tomato seedlings in an apartment?

Delicious vinaigrette with apple and sauerkraut - a vegetarian salad made from boiled and chilled, raw, pickled, salted, pickled vegetables and fruits. The name comes from the French sauce made from vinegar, olive oil and mustard (vinaigrette). Vinaigrette appeared in Russian cuisine not so long ago, around the beginning of the 19th century; perhaps the recipe was borrowed from Austrian or German cuisine, since the ingredients for Austrian herring salad are very similar.

When we dreamily sort through bright packets of seeds in our hands, we are sometimes subconsciously convinced that we have a prototype of a future plant. We mentally allocate a place for it in the flower garden and look forward to the cherished day of the appearance of the first bud. However, buying seeds does not always guarantee that you will eventually get the desired flower. I would like to draw attention to the reasons why seeds may not sprout or die at the very beginning of germination.

Spring is coming, and gardeners have more work to do, and with the onset of warmer weather, changes in the garden occur rapidly. The buds are already beginning to swell on plants that were still dormant yesterday, and everything is literally coming to life before our eyes. After a long winter, this is good news. But along with the garden, its problems come to life - insect pests and pathogens. Weevils, flower beetles, aphids, clasterosporiosis, maniliosis, scab, powdery mildew- the list could take a very long time.

Breakfast toast with avocado and egg salad is a great way to start the day. The egg salad in this recipe acts as a thick sauce that is seasoned with fresh vegetables and shrimp. My egg salad is quite unusual, it is a dietary version of everyone’s favorite snack - with Feta cheese, Greek yogurt and red caviar. If you have time in the morning, never deny yourself the pleasure of cooking something tasty and healthy. You need to start the day with positive emotions!

Perhaps every woman has at least once received a blooming orchid as a gift. It’s not surprising, because such a living bouquet looks amazing and blooms for a long time. Orchids are not very difficult to grow. indoor crops, but failure to comply with the main conditions for their maintenance often leads to the loss of a flower. If you are just getting started with indoor orchids, you should find out the correct answers to the main questions about growing these beautiful plants in the house.

Lush cheesecakes with poppy seeds and raisins prepared according to this recipe are eaten in no time in my family. Moderately sweet, plump, tender, with an appetizing crust, without excess oil, in a word, exactly the same as my mother or grandmother fried in childhood. If the raisins are very sweet, then you don’t need to add granulated sugar at all; without sugar, the cheesecakes will be better fried and will never burn. Cook them in a well-heated frying pan, greased with oil, over low heat and without a lid!

Cherry tomatoes differ from their larger counterparts not only in the small size of their berries. Many cherry varieties are characterized by a unique sweet taste, which is very different from the classic tomato taste. Anyone who has never tried such cherry tomatoes with their eyes closed may well decide that they are tasting some unusual Exotic fruits. In this article I will talk about five different cherry tomatoes that have the sweetest fruits with unusual colors.

I started growing annual flowers in the garden and on the balcony more than 20 years ago, but I will never forget my first petunia, which I planted in the country along the path. Only a couple of decades have passed, but you’re amazed at how different the petunias of the past are from the many-sided hybrids of today! In this article, I propose to trace the history of the transformation of this flower from a simpleton into a real queen of annuals, and also consider modern varieties unusual colors.

Salad with spicy chicken, mushrooms, cheese and grapes - aromatic and satisfying. This dish can be served as a main dish if you are preparing a cold dinner. Cheese, nuts, mayonnaise are high-calorie foods; in combination with spicy fried chicken and mushrooms, you get a very nutritious snack, which is refreshed by sweet and sour grapes. The chicken in this recipe is marinated in a spicy mixture of ground cinnamon, turmeric and chili powder. If you like food with fire, use hot chili.

The question is how to grow healthy seedlings, all summer residents are concerned in early spring. It seems that there are no secrets here - the main thing for fast and strong seedlings is to provide them with warmth, moisture and light. But in practice, in a city apartment or private house, this is not so easy to do. Of course, everyone experienced gardener There is a proven way to grow seedlings. But today we will talk about a relatively new assistant in this matter - the propagator.

The Sanka tomato variety is one of the most popular in Russia. Why? The answer is simple. He is the very first to bear fruit in the garden. Tomatoes ripen when other varieties have not even bloomed yet. Of course, if you follow the growing recommendations and make an effort, even a novice grower will receive a rich harvest and joy from the process. And so that your efforts are not in vain, we advise you to plant high-quality seeds. For example, such as seeds from TM “Agrosuccess”.

Task indoor plants in the house - to decorate the home with your own appearance, to create a special atmosphere of comfort. For this reason, we are ready to take care of them regularly. Care is not only about watering on time, although this is important. It is also necessary to create other conditions: suitable lighting, humidity and air temperature, and make a correct and timely transplant. For experienced flower growers there is nothing supernatural about this. But beginners often face certain difficulties.

Tender cutlets from chicken breast It’s easy to prepare with champignons according to this recipe with step by step photos. There is an opinion that it is difficult to make juicy and tender cutlets from chicken breast, but this is not so! Chicken meat contains virtually no fat, which is why it is a bit dry. But if you add cream, white bread and mushrooms with onions to the chicken fillet, it will turn out amazing delicious cutlets, which will appeal to both children and adults. IN mushroom season try adding wild mushrooms to the minced meat.

Oatroot or salsify (white root, winter asparagus) is a biennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family. Refers to vegetable crops. Distributed in Europe and Asia, North America and Africa, and in other countries it is grown in gardens and vegetable gardens for decorative, culinary and medicinal purposes. In Russia, meadow salsify is found in the wild.

In the first year of life, the oat root forms a rosette of lanceolate leaves and a succulent root crop, and in the second year the plant produces a peduncle - at this time the root becomes unsuitable for use for food and medicinal purposes. Salsify blooms with yellow or purple basket-like inflorescences, which open their petals only in the morning. Despite the fact that oatroot does not bloom as often or as much as other ornamental plants, gardeners love it for its beautiful ornamental foliage.

In folk medicine, all parts of the plant are used: stems, leaves, flowers, roots.
The grass is harvested before the plant blooms: cut with pruning shears and dried in a well-ventilated area, avoiding direct sunlight. Flower baskets are collected during flowering. The dried raw materials are crushed and stored in a tightly closed container for 2 years.

The roots are harvested in the fall, choosing annual plants: they are carefully dug up, cleared of soil and dried. In their raw form, salsify root vegetables are stored like carrots, but for a very short time.

Compound

Oat root is rich in: PP and B vitamins, iron, phosphorus, selenium, magnesium, potassium, as well as bitterness, inulin (a low-calorie carbohydrate), protein, fats, easily digestible carbohydrates and fiber.
Oat root has antiseptic, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, urinary and choleretic effects.
Traditional medicine recommends oat root for:

  • cold;
  • cough and bronchitis;
  • urolithiasis;
  • cardiovascular diseases;
  • internal and postpartum bleeding;
  • gout, rheumatism;
  • poor appetite;
  • diabetes mellitus;
  • nervous system disorders;
  • decreased potency in men;
  • skin diseases (ulcers, ulcers, etc.);
  • bad breath;
  • poisoning with radioactive substances;
  • for cancer prevention.

For diabetes and diseases for which dietary food is recommended, oat root is recommended for regular nutrition. Root vegetables and young leaves of the plant are used for food.

Recipes

Infusion (general recipe):

  • 1 tbsp. oat root herbs;
  • 200 ml boiling water.

Oat root infusion has a calming, anti-allergic and blood purifying effect. Pour boiling water over the herb and let it brew for 6 hours. Strain the resulting infusion and divide into 8 doses - 1 tablespoon each during the day.
This infusion can also be used externally: as a hair rinse against dandruff and used for baths against swelling and rheumatism.

  • 1 tbsp. oat root;
  • 200 ml boiling water.

Grind the root of the plant, pour boiling water over it and boil for 15 minutes. Strain the finished broth and take 1 tablespoon 4 times a day. The decoction will help with cough and bronchitis.
Decoction for kidney disease:

  • 1 tbsp. salsify leaves;
  • 1 tbsp. chopped salsify root;
  • 200 ml boiling water.

Pour boiling water over the plant material and boil for 5 minutes. Remove the broth from the heat, wait for it to cool, and strain. Take 3 tablespoons twice a day.
To prevent scurvy, it is recommended to add young oat root leaves to dishes. To prevent the leaves from becoming bitter, they should be beaten thoroughly.

The juice of the oat root or the root itself, grated, is used to relieve irritations and allergic skin rashes.

From boiled salsify root you can prepare a nourishing face mask (suitable for sensitive skin).

Crushed leaves of salsify, applied directly to the affected areas, treat ulcers, wounds, and ulcers.
Salsify, infused with alcohol, is used as a rinse for bad breath.
Tincture:

  • 100 g of fresh salsify roots;
  • 1 liter of alcohol.

Peel the oat root, cut it into pieces and fill it with alcohol in a glass container. Place the container with the mixture in a dark place for 10 days. Strain the finished tincture.

Contraindications

  • children;
  • pregnant women and nursing mothers;
  • with individual intolerance and tendency to allergic reactions.

Oat root (salsiphy, salsiphy)

Glycemic index (GI) – 30.

Calorie content – ​​82 kcal.

Salsify is a plant of the genus Salsiphy, of the Asteraceae family. It has about 150 varieties, about 40 varieties are used for food. Salsify is cultivated in temperate regions, as vegetable crop, decorative and medicinal plant. Popular in Russia, Europe, the Mediterranean, and the USA. The plant is widespread as a wild plant in temperate climates, in Western Siberia.

Oat root has high taste qualities, has recently been in demand among gourmets and devotees proper nutrition, included in the everyday gastronomic set. In restaurants in the USA and Western Europe it is served as a delicacy.

Beneficial features

The leaves and rhizome of salsify are saturated with nitrogenous extractives, vitamins, and pectins. Fiber takes up 3.3 g, proteins - 3.4 g. The chemical composition of salsify root contains up to 15.4 g of carbohydrates, ash impurities - about 0.9 g. The raw root consists of 77% water. Vitamin group: PP, C, B2, B1, B3, B6, B9, E. Mineral elements: phosphorus, selenium, potassium, manganese, calcium, sodium, iron, zinc.

The beneficial properties of oat root include the presence of the substance inulin (8 g), which makes this product especially in demand in the diet of patients with diabetes.

How it affects the body

Salsify has anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, immunomodulatory, tonic, antiseptic, choleretic, and diuretic effects. Restores heart rate, stabilizes blood pressure, prevents diseases of the digestive and cardiovascular systems. Regular consumption of oat root normalizes metabolism and activates the digestive tract. Improves blood composition, kidney, pancreas, liver, bladder function, and removes harmful substances.

Salsify root helps relieve symptoms of diabetes, urolithiasis, and gastritis. Eliminates swelling, inflammatory and infectious processes in the liver, lungs, blocks the progression of a malignant tumor. The root is effective for skin diseases and ulcerative formations in the gastrointestinal tract.

How to choose correctly

The salsify harvest takes place in October-November. The root must be elastic, at least 30 cm long. The surface of a high-quality rhizome has a uniform color. Salsify is similar in appearance to a light-colored carrot with tubercles. The taste of the raw product is sweetish-bitter.

Storage methods

Oat root can be stored in a cool room for a month. Doesn't change the week chemical composition in a refrigerator. Ideal conditions- This means storing in boxes with sand and aging in a cellar.

What does it go with in cooking?

The peculiar delicate taste of salsify root nobly figures in vegetable purees, sauces, creamy soups. Ideal with milk, sour cream, cheese, cream, mushrooms. Oat root is baked, added to salads, fried, stewed, boiled, and used as a side dish. A “coffee drink” is brewed from the dried root. In Italy, Greece, and Spain, young fruits are eaten like raw carrots; the rhizome is used to make a filling for pies, cooked in batter, and deep-fried.

Some varieties of salsify are distinguished by their bitterness, which disappears when cooked with salt. The boiled root has a taste similar to oysters, for which quality it is often called “oyster plant.”

Healthy combination of products

Salsify root, as a low-calorie product, is included in the diet for weight loss and is used for diabetes. Used for preparing vegetable stews, side dishes, gravy, seasonings for boiled meat and fish.

Oat root is included in radish salads, bell pepper, cucumbers, burdock root. The product is ideal in combination with lentils, rice, and bean sprouts. The root is cooked in lemon sauce and combined in soups with sorrel, spinach, nettle, and sauerkraut.

Contraindications

Not detected.

Application in medicine and cosmetology

Salsify root is useful for normalizing digestion, removing toxins, and stimulating the intestines. Popular as prophylactic from cardiovascular, oncological problems. In folk medicine, salsify is used as a diuretic. Oat root tincture is prescribed for increased bile formation, to enhance the outflow of bile. Included in the diet for weak immunity, diabetes, anemia.

Salsify decoction treats bronchitis and is recommended for diathesis and urolithiasis. In the form of a puree, the root is included in the menu for gastritis, jaundice, inflammation of the intestines, stomach ulcers, and dystrophy. The extract is included in the complex therapy of cancer patients. Salsifi juice is applied to inflamed skin, suppuration, and used to heal infected wounds.

In cosmetology, crushed raw root and juice relieve irritations and allergic manifestations. Boiled salsify is included in nourishing masks for sensitive skin. Rinsing with infusion helps eliminate dandruff.

Vegetable garden Vladimir Ravilov

2017-08-03
Oat root vegetable. Photo: www.bio.cz

Oat root (lat. Tragopogon porrifolius) has long been widely known under the name “Castlebeard.” This vegetable plant with pronounced beneficial properties (contains inulin), pleasant taste and simple agricultural cultivation techniques.

The roots of salsify are consumed as food - they are saturated with milky juice. Oat root juice is rich in inulin. Inulin is required for people suffering from diabetes.

In countries North America, in France and Italy, oat root is grown on an industrial scale - there it is valued and actively used in cooking. In the territory of the former USSR, oat root is less common, mainly as a weed. Many people simply do not know about the beneficial properties of oat root and the agricultural technology for growing it.

I hope that after this article, you will defeat traditional conservatism and, based on complete and reliable information, you will be able to grow oat root in your dacha or garden, and you will also recommend oat root to your neighbors - its nutritional and medicinal properties.

In Russia, oat root grows very well - it is not demanding on the composition of the soil, it is drought-resistant, and cold-resistant. Among other things, salsify is well stored, like other root vegetables.

Why is salsify called oat root? But because the seeds of the plant are shaped like oat seeds. The seeds, having ripened, fly away on “parachutes” to wherever the wind blows. In addition to the seeds, salsify's leaves are similar to those of oats, although they are covered with a bluish coating.

"Parachutes" of oat root seeds. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

The plant is a biennial plant belonging to the Asteraceae family, saturated with white milky sap. In the first year, the oat root forms a rosette of numerous linear-oblong, grayish-green leaves. The leaves are narrow and widened at the base, 30–50 cm long. Peduncles grow in the second year, their height is 100–120 cm. The flowers are purple-blue, collected in baskets, flowering continues for a very long time.

The oat root is cylindrical, fleshy, smooth, tapered at the bottom, white-yellow in color. The length of the root crop is up to 25 cm, and the diameter is up to 3–4 cm.

The salsify root vegetable is covered with suberized skin. The pulp of the oat root is white; when it is broken, a milky juice is released, which quickly darkens.

Growing
Growing oat root. Photo: www.floracatalana.net

Growing oat root is no more difficult than growing any other traditional plant:

  • Oat root is very popular light loams with a thick arable layer, fertile and provided with moisture. On heavy clay soil it forms ugly roots.
  • The soil must have neutral and slightly alkaline reaction. Oat root does not like acidic soils.
  • Oat root is drought resistant, but responds well to watering.
  • The plant loves light throughout the day, in partial shade it grows strongly, but forms thin root crops.
  • Cold hardy, can overwinter well in the soil when covered with dry leaves or good snow cover.
  • Oat root seeds germinate at a temperature of +3–5 °C, and the optimal summer temperature for plant development is +18–20 °C.
  • The best predecessors oat root can be any crop to which high doses of organic fertilizers have been applied.

Important! The oat root does not tolerate fresh manure. When it is introduced into the soil, the oat root grows long, but very tough.

By growing oat root as a biennial crop, larger root crops can be obtained.

Soil preparation

Oat root, like any root vegetable, loves deeply cultivated soil, so the soil is prepared in the fall.

The soil is dug up to the depth of a spade bayonet, adding 1 tbsp. a spoonful of superphosphate and potash fertilizers and half a glass wood ash per 1 m2.

If the soil is heavy, you need to add 1 bucket of coarse sand and 1 bucket of low-lying, aerated peat.

On very poor soil it is necessary to add half a bucket of rotted compost (no more), but on acidic soils- lime fertilizers.

And when digging up the soil in spring, add 1 tbsp. a spoonful of ammonium nitrate or 1 teaspoon of urea per 1 m2 of bed.

If the fertile arable layer is very thin, you need to high bed to grow an oat root of decent length. The length of the root crop is 25–30 cm - this is one and a half bayonets of a shovel.

Agricultural technology
Oat root flower. Photo: Wikipedia

Oat root seeds are soaked before sowing, because they have a very dense shell. We recommend soaking them in a solution of a growth stimulator, but even simply soaking oat root seeds in a solution of stove ash (1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water) for 12 hours will significantly speed up seed germination.

Seeds are sown in early spring, at the same time as carrot seeds, placed in moist furrows, 2-3 seeds per nest, at a shallow depth. The distance between neighboring plants is 5 cm. The row spacing is 30-35 cm.

After sowing, the bed is mulched with peat or covered with film to reduce moisture evaporation.

Winter sowing of oat root seeds is carried out before the onset of stable frosts.

Shoots appear after 10 days, and when unfavorable conditions- 15–16 days after sowing. Therefore, weeds often choke out oat root seedlings.

To make it easier to weed beds with oat root, when sowing the seeds, you can add seeds of lighthouse crops, it is best salad mustard. Salad mustard seeds germinate in 3-4 days and clearly mark the rows. This allows you to loosen the rows without waiting for the main crop to sprout and additionally obtain a harvest of salad mustard.

The oat root is thinned out when the second leaf appears, leaving 4–5 cm between plants. After 2–3 weeks, a second thinning is carried out, leaving a distance of 10–12 cm.

Oat root care is usual: weeding, watering, fertilizing, removing bolting plants. By the way, be sure to remove oat root plants that have gone to waste - their root crops are not suitable for food.

Harvesting and storage

The oat root harvest begins in October, before the onset of cold weather. Unripe root vegetables do not store well.

Root crops should not be damaged - if damaged, milky juice flows out, so the tops are cut at a height of 1-2 cm.

Oat root vegetables are stored in boxes with sand, similar to carrots and beets.

Oat root in cooking
Roasted oat root vegetables.

Juicy, fleshy, root vegetables are eaten. They are used to make puree, side dishes for main courses, and add to soup. The taste of the oat root pulp is reminiscent of fish or oysters.

Also, oat root vegetables are fried, boiled and stewed, like potatoes.

Ground, dried and roasted oat roots make a delicious coffee drink.

Add young leaves of the oat root to vegetable salads - they add sharpness and piquancy to the dish.

The cold-resistant root crops of black and oat root can be harvested both in autumn and early spring.

To dig them up this year, now is the time to start sowing the seeds.

Spanish scorzonera, better known as black root, like its garden neighbor oat root, is becoming more and more popular in Europe every year. This is due to the ease of cultivation and the great benefits of these root vegetables. Black and oat roots can also be cultivated here - the seeds of the crops are widely available.

Growing black and oat root

Long, thick root crops at the black root are formed only if you start sowing in early spring, as soon as the snow melts and the moist soil dries out slightly. Oat root seeds are sown in the soil at the same time. The bed is prepared in the fall or no later than two weeks before sowing: the soil is dug to a depth of at least 20 cm and filled with mature compost.

Seeds should be sown in rows with row spacing of 30 cm in grooves 1-2 centimeters deep.

After germination, the plants are thinned out, leaving 6-10 cm between them. At first, young plants need to be loosened and weeded frequently, but during the period of main growth, from July to the end of September, they can be left alone. During a prolonged drought, plantings need to be watered thoroughly - it is enough to water the plants once a week, but generously, so that the soil is well saturated with moisture.

The harvest can be harvested either in the fall, in October, or in early spring, when the soil thaws. Black and oat roots are cold-resistant plants, but it is still better to cover them with a thick layer of straw or leaf mulch.

Black root (pictured above) and oat root (pictured on the right) are “relatives”, although not exactly close

Scorzonera, or black root ( Scorzonera hispanica), originally from Spain. Plants form taproots 30-50 cm long with black velvety or even slightly corky skin. Unlike many other types of root vegetables, the roots of this plant are very fragile and tender and are poorly stored after harvesting, so it is better to leave some of them in the garden and dig them up as needed.

Oat or white root (Tragopogon porrifolius), like black root, belongs to the Asteraceae family, but to a different genus - Salsify.

This plant used to be grown in English gardens mainly for its pretty purple flower heads. Due to its specific taste, oat root is also called “Vegetable Oyster”. The “Sandwich Island” variety is considered especially refined. Resembling tender carrots, the cream-colored root vegetable is prepared in the same way as blackroot.

When exposed to air, the milky juice that appears during cleaning quickly becomes Brown color, but unlike black root juice, it does not become sticky. When this plant begins to flower, its root becomes woody and unpalatable.

Beneficial features

The healing properties of black root have been known since ancient times. And not in vain, because this root vegetable is rich in sugars, vitamins C, B1, B2, potassium salts, manganese, iron, copper, zinc, phosphorus, calcium. But its main advantage is the high content of inulin, which is necessary for diabetes.

Also, black root is very useful for obesity, vitamin deficiency, anemia, atherosclerosis, and inhibits the development of gout, rheumatism, and polyarthritis. Eating the root improves metabolism and heals the body. Recently, information has even appeared that this plant is capable of removing radioactive elements from the body.

When buying black root, choose thinner root vegetables - they are thick, often hollow inside and during cooking they become soft and dry.

The easiest way to peel smooth, firm root vegetables is to use a vegetable or asparagus peeler. The latter also applies to oat root (if you use it instead of black root). Then the root vegetables are cut into strips and placed in acidified lemon juice or vinegar water to keep them light.

The sticky milky juice that is released when cutting a vegetable and appears on the skin or cutting board brown spots You can remove everything with the same lemon juice or vinegar. Before cooking, the root vegetables cut into strips, depending on their thickness, are boiled for a maximum of 10 minutes in salted water until half cooked.

If you want to bake the root vegetables, deep-fry or freeze them, you only need to lightly boil them.

Tip: washed and brushed roots can also be boiled in their skins and then immediately poured over cold water. Then the hard peel can be easily removed with a knife.

Black Root Recipes

Breaded black root

For 4 servings:

800 g black root, 1/2 teaspoon. tablespoons of salt, 3 tablespoons, lemon juice, oil for deep-frying, 100-200 g breadcrumbs, 5 tablespoons each of sesame and nigella seeds, flour for breading, 2 eggs, sprouted cereal grains and field salad. For the sauce: 1 orange, 1 lemon, 100 ml red wine, 1 cinnamon stick, 2 clove buds, 200 g rosehip puree, 2 tsp. spoons of green peppercorns

Wash and peel the black root. Boil in salted water with lemon juice for 6 minutes. Place in a colander and allow the water to drain. 2. Heat enough oil in a frying pan so that the roots can float in it. 3. In a plate, mix crackers with nigella and sesame seeds. First roll the black root in flour, then dip it in the egg and bread it in breadcrumbs. Fry in hot oil for approx. 7 min. Transfer to a paper towel to absorb excess fat. 4. For the sauce, wash and dry the lemon and orange. Cut the zest into a thin spiral ribbon and squeeze out the juice. Mix juice, zest, wine and spices in a saucepan, bring to a boil and reduce by half. Strain the liquid, add rosehip puree, Green pepper and 1 table, a spoonful of water, mix. Let cool. 5. Divide the black root into portioned plates and serve along with the sauce. Serve sprouted grains as a side dish (you can also see recipes for sprouted grains in this article) and field salad.

Pickled black root

2 red onions, 1 kg of black root, 1 tea. spoon of black peppercorns, 1 teaspoon. a spoonful of mustard seeds, 2 sprigs of sage and thyme, 650 ml vegetable broth, 150 ml white wine vinegar

Peel the onion and cut into rings. Peel the black root and cut into strips. Place along with onions, peppers, mustard and herbs in sterile jars. Bring the broth with vinegar to a boil, pour over the vegetables, and seal tightly. Use as a vegetable side dish or pickles.

(transferred from comments)

Black root against diabetes

This plant is better known to gardeners southern regions countries. Which is a shame, since its taste is often compared to asparagus.

I want to talk about scorzonera, which is more often called black root or goat. What is important for any gardener: scorzonera is not damaged by pests, and I have not observed any diseases either. But most importantly, eating scorzonera can replace the pharmacy. After all, its root vegetable contains inulin and a special enzyme inulase (like asparagus), it contains asparagine and glutamine, which play a significant role in diet therapy. The root vegetable also contains ascorbic acid, minerals, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, a lot of protein, microelements, vitamins. In total, scorzonera has more than a hundred biologically active substances! For patients with diabetes and rheumatism, this is a vital vegetable. And also the black root - scorzonera - protects against radiation and has anti-cancer properties.

Scorzonera will be good on your table too. Scorzonera root vegetables are also good fresh in salads. Their flesh is sweetish.

You can cook them like asparagus or cauliflower or bake in dough. Such dishes are easy to digest, regulate metabolism, support thyroid function, and reduce arterial pressure, give strength.

Scorzonera is not difficult to grow. In the first year, a rosette of leaves grows, and by autumn, long, fleshy roots appear. They themselves are black, and the pulp, rich in milky juice, is white. In the second year the plant produces seeds.

When growing scorzonera, you need fertile soil, dug up to the depth of almost 1.5 shovels. And be sure to be soft - otherwise small, crooked roots will grow. Shoots appear after 2-3 weeks and grow slowly. Care is quite simple: watering with infusion of ash (1 glass per 10 liters of water), infusion of herbs - 0.5 liters per bush, loosening is required. Seeds are sown at a distance of 25 cm from each other, and between rows - 30-35 cm, sowing depth - 2 cm.

In the fall, the roots are dug up; during the season they grow up to 30 cm long and weigh about 100 g. Of course, with good care.

The seeds are stored for a very short time - 1-2 years, and then they lose their germination. Therefore, it is safer to sow scorzonera with fresh seeds.

Here it is valuable plant growing in my dacha.

Below are other entries on the topic “Do-it-yourself cottage and garden”

Black root, kozelets, scorzonera - if you want greens, you want roots: Why is scorzonera grown (black root,...Scorzonera-black root (photo) planting, care and benefits: SCORZONERA, OR BLACK ROOT -...Unfamiliar and unusual root vegetables - healthy and tasty: Rare root crops for the kitchen -...Black apricot (photo) varieties and description: Growing black apricot - planting...How I grow apricot: How to grow apricot in Lipetsk...Black cumin (Kalinji) - application and beneficial features: Black cumin and its beneficial...Black cancer in trees - measures and methods of control: Black cancer of trees - how...