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Globe Artichoke

Paul NPaul N Posts: 303
in Plants

I have been given some small seedlings which were called Globe Artichokes. I've just been reading up about them and discovered Cardoons - which I believe these to be) and Globe Artichokes which are edible. I will get back to our friend to discover exactly what they are but in the mean time - are all decorative or edible? Or are some decorative whilst others are decorative?

Posts

  • figratfigrat Posts: 1,619
    Artichokes and cardoons are both architectural plants which are edible as well as decorative!
  • Paul NPaul N Posts: 303

    And they are one and they same thing? Ta.

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,646

    No.  Globe artichokes produce flower buds an dthe bit you eat is the flower head plus some of teh stalk.  Fiddly but delicious as you have to remove the thictley "choke" to get at the heart.  They produce their best heads on 2 and 3 year old plants so you have to nurture them through their first winter.

    Cardoons are taller and it's usually the stem that's eaten.

    Check out recipes for both to see if you fancy them.  I can't get either through one of my winters.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • BookertooBookertoo Posts: 1,306

    Either way, yoou should be aware that they are huge - albeit beautiful.  I used to grow them on our allotment but now I am only gardening at home, I cannot find space for them.

  • daituomdaituom Posts: 83

    Actually obelixx, you get rid of the leaves/ bracts and eat the chokes.image

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,646

    Not so but we can agree to differ.  The choke is the thing that becomes the thistly unpleasant part when the flower goes to seed.  The base of the flower and the base of the scales around the flower are the bits you eat and, if it's a small one, the top of the stem too before it gets tough.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,646

    Not so but we can agree to differ.  The choke is the thing that becomes the thistly unpleasant part when the flower goes to seed.  The base of the flower and the base of the scales around the flower are the bits you eat and, if it's a small one, the top of the stem too before it gets tough.    They're called artichoke hearts when tinned.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
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