Globe Artichokes

It’s taken me a couple of goes but I finally have some artichokes (Cynara scolymus) growing! I have planted a few from seed (purple and green varieties) but they aren’t said to flower until their second year so I also have one green one from the garden centre which has just started flowering. Two weeks ago there was nothing, and now I have four or five fat juicy buds growing.

Globe Artichokes make a great statement plant

Globe artichokes are a perennial plant and will last a few years, suckering at the base to produce more plants. They grow about 1.5 meters tall and are about that big across as well. They are beautiful structural plants with jagged, silvery green leaves that arch rather gracefully. The flower stems shoot straight up from the middle and (if you leave them alone and don’t eat the buds!) will open up into giant fluffy periwinkle blue flowers. Artichokes are a member of the Asteraceae (daisy) family and are very closely related to thistles (which is obvious when you see them flower or touch the bud - spikey!).

I have not let mine openly flower yet though - I was too keen to eat them. Today I boiled one, then pulled off each leaf individually, eating the fleshy bit at the base, accompanied by a little vinaigrette. Once all the leaves were gone, I pulled out the hairy centre and ate what remained of of the base and stem, which personally I thought was the best bit!

It was possibly a bit too open but it sure was tasty! Garlic chive flowers just to feel fancy.