I'm always chomping at the bit to get stuff planted early in the season.
When we first moved here I had some brilliant globe artichoke plants, although they didn't last out the winter. And over the years I've grown them a few times since. Always a real treat to eat (if a bit of a faff) and some real structural plants for the garden.
So I thought we'd put them in again this year. The instructions say that planted this time of year they'll be annual so it has made me think that might be why they didn't make it through last time.
I've always fancied growing cardoons as well. I know they take up a huge amount of space but that's not something we're short of here. I've never eaten the blanched stems but have wanted to ever since seeing it on Victorian Kitchen Garden many years ago.
My boy helped me plant them. I love how careful he is with seeds, such a delicate touch as he plants them.
What have you been sowing lately? Keep me on my toes! Who has peas in already?
Nothing beat small hands helping in the greenhouse or garden.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I'm lucky they all keep coming to help me!
DeleteKev, I had to look up Cardoons (never heard of them before).
ReplyDeleteI will be interested to hear how the artichokes do. That I know in other climes, I though they were perennial, but those climes have very mild Winters.
We are back under a cold watch - no sowing here for a bit.
When I grew them here in the past they would sometimes see two years, but think it's just a bit wet here some winters (not this one).
DeleteI bought some seeds yesterday and am chomping at the bit to get my hands in the dirt but have to wait a few more weeks in our area. I hope your artichokes grow - the voles keep eating mine!
ReplyDeleteThey eat the roots? Maybe that is what happened to mine then? They were huge plants but I some winters they would just die off!
DeleteI think Cardoons are perennials so you will have plants to swap and sell. I sowed some Parsnips and radish in containers in the polytunnel last weekend. Don't know if it's too early yet but it's worth a try.
ReplyDeleteYeah, they grow as a perennial, but they don't like the wet winters in my little hollow I think! I think having some plants to swap or give away is always a good thing. Did wonder if they would survive in the chicken pen.
DeleteWe used to cut ours back and pile straw over them for the winters.
ReplyDeleteAh, that's a good idea. I'll see how these do and then in late summer decide my cause of action! Thank you!
Deleteweevils eat artichokes and then they die off
ReplyDeleteThat could be what happened to my last lot then - they died pretty quickly!
DeleteI absolutely adore cardoons... they are super easy to grow (they do not like clay) and are architecturely stunning... so resilient too
ReplyDeleteAh, we do have a clay subsoil here and it does lie wet in the winter.
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