Tuesday 20 September 2011

Globe Artichokes

Globe Artichokes Cynara scolymus
The Globe Artichoke is a handsome, thistle-like pant, architecturally decorative enough to comfortably sit in the herbaceous border rather than the vegetable patch.
It grows to about 1.5m (5ft high) with magnificent arching silver leaves and if left to flower, produces giant thistle-like flower heads.

It’s that global flower head that is a gourmet’s delight if removed and cooked before the fleshy scales open.   Boiled or steamed the edible part of the flower head are the fleshy base of each scale and the artichoke heart, which is the bottom of the flower and has the finest flavour.

The Globe Artichoke likes a good soil, regular watering, feeding and frost protection in the winter

Propagate from seed or spring suckers

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