Marek kucmerka Sium sisarum (kucmerka) is a completely forgotten vegetable, although in the past it was widely eaten not only in Poland, but also throughout Europe. The entire plant is edible, but the roots are the tastiest. They can be boiled, baked or fried. They taste a bit like parsnips, although they are much softer and sweeter. InGermany in the 18th century, the use of kucmerek as a source of sugar was considered, but in the end, sugar beet won.The English name kucmerki (skirret) comes from the Dutch suikerwortel and means sugar root.
Marek kucmerka is a perennial from the Apiaceae family of celery, umbellate.Its root tubers are oblong with numerous branches of varying thickness, and the flesh is white. A stem grows from the tuber, reaching 1-1.8 meters in height. It is stiff, light green, reddish at the base.The leaves are complex, consisting of five lanceolate leaflets, which slightly round as the plant grows.Its flowers are white, gathered in umbels and opening only in the evening. Their advantage is a beautiful fragrance. The plant is pollinated by insects. It produces fine, brown, cone-shaped seeds.
Kucmerki brand seeds are sown at the beginning of April in the ground or in a greenhouse / at home, and then transplanted to a selected position.In spring, you can also split its roots so that each part has at least three left. Then we plant them to a depth of 3-7 cm. Kucmerka spreads itself, so you can also get seedlings. The seedlings are spaced every 30 cm.In summer you have to remember about frequent watering and fertilizing, for example with liquid manure. In the following years, the little jackets will relieve us a bit in our duties, because they can spread on their own.
Marek Kucmerka's taste
When you look at the tubers - they do not impress. Well, truffles aren't pretty either. Unfortunately, they are difficult to clean. Presumably, this is why cookware has been replaced by potatoes. And not only in Poland. All of Europe forgot about them.But it's definitely worth trying to reintroduce them into your diet.They are still widely eaten in Northeast Asia. There are also occasional crops in North America.
Vegetable has a lot of protein, it is easy to digest.They were administered with all gastrointestinal problems - especially for children.Young shoots cleanse the body and have a diuretic effect. The root helps with liver disorders, including jaundice, as well as with lung diseases.
Resistant to cold, humidity and pests
Kucmerka is ideally suited to growing in our climate.It tolerates long periods of cold, rainy summer, does not require spraying.Likes sunny or slightly shaded positions. The soil should be fertile, loose, alkaline and moist. In the wild, it often grows in wetlands. Lack of sufficient moisture causes the roots to become fibrous.
