Skirret - Sium sisarum

A hardy perennial plant growing to 1.5m with sprays of creamy-white umbiliferous flowers which are attractive to insects. The roots are thick and fleshy with a taste similar to parsnips.

Best sown in Spring between March and May. Sprinkle Skirret seeds thinly in a tray of compost and cover with a light layer of compost. They will take 3-4 weeks to germinate but they can be erratic germinators with some germinating immediately and others taking quite a few weeks, so don’t worry if you don’t see seedlings appearing right away. They need a temperature of between 10-22c to germinate so a heated propagator can help them along. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out and transplant into pots. They do not mind being handled and transplanted. Slugs like to nibble small plants so allow yours to get a bit of top growth before planting it out.  You can sow directly if you prefer from March to May when the soil has warmed up, but getting them established in pots does help against the early nibbling! Plant them out about 60-80 cm apart in a sunny spot.

Plants take three years from seed to produce heavy crops of roots. Crowns can be lifted and divided in autumn when foliage dies back. Harvest the fleshy roots for eating, and divide and replant the crown for new plants the following year (if you divide it into large pieces, you will be able to harvest them the first year. Smaller divisions will make more plants but are probably best left in the ground the first year to bulk up).