Organic Artichoke. Green globe.

Description

Organic Artichoke. Green globe. Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus.

Green globe artichoke is a perennial plant. It has huge leaves resembling rhubarb leaves, which form a large rosette from which tall, sturdy flower stems grow. The stems hold multiple flower heads.
If you allow some of the purple thistle like flowers to mature you’ll find many pollinators benefit and they look stunning. Mature plants are frost hardy.

How to grow:
Sow seeds in modules from February to August at 4cms deep.
Plant out with a spacing of 100cms once they reach 15cms in height into a well manured bed. They look really great in a big bed to themselves.
They like heat, so best to plant out into open ground that is beside a polytunnel or a south facing wall.

Problem solving:
Protect from slugs when young. Keep well watered until established.

Favourite ways to eat them:
Artichoke hearts are well known for their delicious flavour. Cut the flower heads while still young and well before the petals show. Rinse in cold water. Steam or boil whole until the petals come away when pulled, about 20-40 minutes depending on size. They can also be baked or roasted whole.
You can eat the little base of each petal, but once you’ve pulled the petals off you’ll find the delicate heart in the middle.

Cultural history:
Cultivated for centuries for their great taste and nutritional value.

Seed weight approx. 25 (revised) seed per gram.
Pack contents:  1g.