Salsify 'Mammoth Sandwich Island'

I’ve been roasting these roots with olive oil and they turn tender with a mild, briny flavor, just like the description says. The plants added a lovely, tall silhouette to my garden bed while I waited. Perfect for anyone who wants both an ornamental vegetable and a kitchen staple.

I was pleasantly surprised by how easy these were to grow in my raised bed, and the roots had a mild, delicate flavor when steamed. The "oyster vegetable" nickname makes sense once you taste them—perfect in a simple gratin.

I baked these roots with some garlic and olive oil—they came out tender with a mild, almost sweet oyster-like flavor. The seeds sprouted quickly and the plants were surprisingly hardy for a root vegetable.