cardoon
Cynara Cardunculus
This variety of cardoon is without thorns giving broad ribs and thick to the particular taste of artichoke, it is a true delight cooked with the poele or simply gratined.
Description
White Cardoon – Cynara cardunculus
Traditional vegetable with artichoke flavour, ornamental and hardy, ideal for winter dishes. A beautiful and useful plant for every garden.
A giant in the garden with silver leaves and edible stems. The white cardoon is tasty, decorative and steeped in Mediterranean tradition.
A generous and ornamental heirloom
The white cardoon is a close relative of the artichoke, cultivated for its fleshy stalks. Its impressive silver-green foliage gives it architectural value in the garden. Once blanched and cooked, it becomes a winter delicacy. A forgotten vegetable well worth rediscovering.
Origins and botanical family
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Native to the Mediterranean basin
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Member of the Asteraceae family (daisies)
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Grown since ancient times, valued in monastic and peasant gardens
Botanical description
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Height: 1.5 to 2 metres
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Growth habit: tall and upright clump
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Leaves: large, deeply cut, silver-green
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If allowed to flower, produces stunning violet-blue blooms
Sowing and growing conditions
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Sowing period: March–April indoors, May outdoors
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Ideal germination temperature: 20–25 °C
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Germination time: 10–20 days
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Depth: 1–2 cm
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Spacing: 80 cm between plants, 100 cm between rows
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Soil: rich, deep, humus-rich, well-drained
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Exposure: full sun
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Thinning: keep the strongest seedlings only
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Water: moderate but regular, mulch in summer
Care and maintenance
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Add compost or manure regularly
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Hill the base during the season
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Blanch 3–4 weeks before harvest with straw or cardboard
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Few diseases; watch out for slugs on seedlings
Harvest
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Harvest time: October to December
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Pick after blanching, when stalks are thick and pale
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Yield: 3–6 kg per plant
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Storage: a few days in cellar or fridge; blanch before freezing
In the garden
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Great for back of beds or ornamental potager
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Pairs well with leeks, celery, carrots
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Practice crop rotation every few years
Culinary uses
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Taste: subtle, slightly bitter, similar to artichoke
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Cook in gratins, stews or soups
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Tip: add lemon to cooking water to prevent browning
Ecology and curiosities
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Attracts pollinators if allowed to flower
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Suitable for permaculture and edible landscaping
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Very drought-resistant once established
A forgotten classic, the white cardoon is both ornamental and productive. Hardy and flavourful, it's perfect for curious and gourmet gardeners.
Features
- Common name : cardoon
- Category : vegetable
- Time to sow seeds : April to May
- Harvest : autumn
Specific References
- EAN13
- 8711117216803
Expédition & livraison
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