Cynara cardunculus improved white-flowered - cardoon seeds

The Improved White Cardoon is a hardy and vigorous variety that combines several qualities: thornless, voluminous, wide and fleshy stalks, finely cut leaves that easily turn white, and good storage ability. Sow from March to July for harvests from July to November.

Cardoons and artichokes belong to the same family, and the two plants are actually very similar: they have the same finely cut, characteristic silver-grey foliage, and they both produce large flower heads that resemble thistles (another cousin in the family) and range in flower colour from indigo to violet. However, while artichokes are cultivated for their floral buds, cardoons are grown for the central vein of their foliage. The cardoon flower is edible but much tougher than the artichoke. Once blanched, the cardoon stalk or stalk can be prepared in gratins, mashed, juiced, used for its pith, or served as a side dish with meat.

The cardoon thrives in rich, organic, well-drained soil. It should be positioned in a sunny location if possible. At maturity, it can reach a height of 2m and a width of 1.50m if the stalks have not been cut for blanching.

Cultivation: a few weeks before harvest for heirloom varieties, the stalks should be allowed to blanch. To do this, gather the leaves and cover them with cardboard or an opaque film, making sure to allow air circulation. Mound the soil around the plants with 25-30cm of earth to stabilise them. With this technique, the leaves no longer receive light. Without photosynthesis, the leaves become tender and turn white. A few weeks later, they are ready to be harvested.

Harvest: wear gloves, especially for thorny varieties. Pull up the entire root ball and place the leaves in a well-ventilated area, protected from light. When stored correctly, the stalks can be preserved and consumed throughout the winter.

Gardener's tip: promote crop rotation, especially by planting cardoons after legumes which enrich the soil with nitrogen. Replant the cardoon in the same spot after a minimum four-year rotation. The cardoon is nutrient-demanding.

Organic or "AB" seeds come from plants grown in organic agriculture (without the use of pesticides). They undergo no treatment after harvest. These seeds are suitable for organic market gardening.