Skirret seeds | Rare Heritage Vegetable | 15+ seeds | Crummock | Fine Taste

Please find for sale 15+ Skirret seeds (Sium Sisarum) seeds. Also known as Sugar Root and Crummock. 

A relative of Parsnip and Carrots, Skirret was incredibly popular in the Tudor period but inexplicably became forgotten and almost unknown in the 20th century. Happily, whilst still rare, it is making a comeback. It has a fine sophisticated taste superior to many mass grown root veggies - a mix of carrot, parsnip, and parsley, with a slight peppery hint. Equally importantly, Skirret is far easier to grow than either Parsnip or Carrots which are very fussy about soils - and as a hardy perennial it is very much "plant and forget" - a Skirret patch will produce roots year after year for minimal effort.

Key Reasons to Grow Skirret:

Perennial Reliability: Once established, it grows back year after year without needing replanting, surviving cold winters and requiring little maintenance.

Sweet Flavour & Versatility: Skirret roots are described as very sweet, and are very versatile and can be roasted, fried, used in soups, or eaten raw.

High Productivity & Nutrition: As a "major calorie crop," it provides a large yield of roots. The young leaves and shoots are also edible

Easy Propagation: It can be grown from seeds (requiring winter cold) or, more simply, by dividing the clumps of roots in the Autumn.

Thrives in Wet Soil: Unlike many root vegetables that rot in wet conditions, skirret thrives in moist, free-draining soil.

Pollinator Friendly: The plant grows to about 3-4 feet tall and produces white, lacy umbel flowers that attract beneficial insects. 

INSTRUCTIONS - TO SAVE PAPER I NO LONGER SEND OUT WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS TO CUSTOMERS. INSTRUCTIONS ARE BELOW SO PLEASE BOOKMARK THIS PAGE. 

Germination Guide

Sow indoors in spring or outdoors in late AprilSeeds are small and require constant moisture so if sown outside will need to be watered in weather dry.Sowing indoors in a tray or of fine, pre-soaked compost
Place each seed on the surface and gently tamp (press) the seed to ensure good contact with the compost.
Very lightly cover the seeds with a layer of vermiculite of fine grit as light aids germination
Keep at 15-20C and ensure compost does not dry out
Germination can be naturally erratic with first seedlings appearing after around 10 days, stragglers taking several weeks
Prick out and pot on once large enough to handle
Plant out in final position once risk of frost passed.