Skirret

An ancient vegetable, now rarely cultivated. It is a perennial plant with a bundle of very sweet roots, approximately 1 cm in diameter. The plant itself can grow up to 150 cm tall and is easy to grow in nutrient-rich, moist soil. Sowing can be done in September or in spring with a 40 cm row spacing. You prepare them in the same way as salsify. With this vegetable, we bring ancient history back into our homes. Skirret was possibly already known to the Romans and was certainly (re?)introduced to Europe around 1546. Sweetness was a luxury at that time, so it belonged to royal feasts. In the 18th century, the crop (almost) disappeared into oblivion.

Names:
Latin: Sium sisarum
Dutch: Suikerwortel
Also: Skirret
English: Skirret