Skorzonera
Scorzonera is called a snake murder, for its juice was once used as a medicine against viper venom, and black roots, due to the dark color of the rind. It is a biennial plant. The edible part of the scorzonera is cylindrical, generally blunt-ended storage root in length 20-30 cm, covered with a black-brown skin. The white or creamy flesh contains milk juice, which flows out abundantly when a root is cut, causing it to swallow. Scorzonera contains a lot of dry matter, numerous mineral salts, small amounts of vitamins C and B group and organic compounds, thanks to which it is easily digestible and recommended in diets used in various diseases.
Young scorzonera plants, especially the seedlings, are sensitive to frost, while older plants can winter in the ground. Scorzonera is sensitive to shading and lack of water. It works best in fertile soils, carious, sandy loam and peat; on heavy soils, clay roots fork and quickly become woody, and on sandy ones they grow poorly.
Scorzonera is grown in the second year after manure, from sowing to the ground. Fresh manure should not be used under scorzonera, because the roots can fork. On 7-10 days before sowing, it is recommended to use mineral fertilizers in doses per 1 m2: 30-40 g superphosphate, 30-40 g 40% potassium salt or 25-30 g of potassium sulfate. Nitrogen fertilizer is given just before sowing (10-15 g saletrzaku na m2). Varieties with a shorter growing season in good soil are also sown in early spring, on poorer soil and in regions with a shorter growing season, it is sown in August for harvesting in the summer or autumn of the following year.
Scorzonera is sown in rows at 20-25 cm. Approximately two weeks after the emergence of the plants, a break should be taken, preferably after rain, leaving plants co 6-8 cm. Nursing plants consists in weeding and watering during drought. Nitrogen fertilization is recommended for top dressing in June and then in August. Roots, which are long,.quite brittle and brittle, excavates at the end of October, preferably with a flat-toothed forks. Average yield from 1 m2 is 1,5-2 kg.
There are three types in the selection of varieties: Annual giants -plenna, not prone to knocking out seed shoots in the first year after sowing; root medium long, not very thick, simple; medium firm flesh, with a certain tendency to discoloration; for late autumn and winter use; Duplex – perfect for canned food and frozen meals; root quite long, medium thick, simple, shapely, pointed, with a certain tendency to branch; very firm flesh, White; Black Peter – very fertile, Healthy; shapely root, simple, fat, with little tendency to branching and knocking out into seed shoots; medium firm flesh; root shorter than the roots of previous varieties.