Common artichoke(Cynara scolymus) is a herbaceous perennial with the edible part of the inflorescence heads. Popular in countries with warmer climates, mainly in the Mediterranean region, in Polandcommon artichoke is cultivatedexclusively as an annual plant. It is worth taking an interest in it because of its healing and nutritional propertiesartichoke propertiesSee what it looks likegrowing artichokeon the plot and how it can be used in the kitchen, but also in ours … in the garden!
Common artichoke - Cynara scolymus
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Common artichoke - properties
Artichokesare herbaceous perennials that can be grown both as vegetables and ornamental plants. They grow up over 1.5 m in height. An attractive decoration of flower beds are their stiff, green, arched leaves, similar to thistle leaves (they are a good background for flowers). Large flower baskets appear in early autumn. If you do not cut them for food, they will cover in shades from pink to purple to blue. Then you will appreciatedecorative qualities of artichoke !
The most popular to grow as a vegetable isCommon Artichoke(Cynara scolymus). The edible part of this plant are inflorescences - baskets with a fleshy bottom and fleshy covers. Bleached artichoke stalks are also suitable for consumption.
Cultivation of the common artichokeof this plant is most popular in France, Italy, Spain and the USA.In Great Britain, it is grown solely for ornamental purposes. In Poland, artichoke is a little-known delicacy, grown almost exclusively as an amateur. It's a pity, because it's tasty and very he althy (recommended for diabetics).
Artichoke is a delicious vegetable
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Thanks to the substance it contains, called cynarin,artichoke has choleretic properties, helps detoxify the body, protects the liver and lowers cholesterolMay be a good source of potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron .
Less known but no less attractive is theSpanish artichoke(Cynara cardunculus), also known as kard. Kard is considered the wild ancestor of the cultivated formscommon artichoke
What is the difference between these two plants? When you see a flowering artichoke in someone, you can easily tell if it isCommon Artichokeor Spanish Artichoke. Well, in the case of the Spanish artichoke, the characteristic leaves surrounding the cover of the flower basket are ended with thorny growths.In common artichoke these spiky growths are absent.
Common artichoke - cultivation
Artichokecan be grown as a 3-4-year-old or annual plant.Growing artichokeas an annual plant is easier because it is difficult to protect the plant from freezing.
Growing artichokesstart by preparing seedlings in a heated foil tunnel or greenhouse. If you do not have a tunnel on the plot, you can also do it at home on the window sill. We start work in February. Sow 2 or 3 seeds into pots filled with peat substrate (pH 6 to 6.5). Until the cotyledons appear, try to keep the temperature at 25 ° C (then keep the temperature between 15 and 20 ° C). When more than one seedling appears in the pot, leave the strongest one.
Ifartichoke seedswere sown in multi-pots, after about a month, in the phase of two true leaves, pierce the seedlings into 8 cm pots. In May, the plants are planted in beds.
The beds underartichoke cultivationshould be sheltered from the wind and well exposed to sunlight. The soil should be neutral or slightly alkaline. It should be fertile, well-drained, deeply cultivated. It is good if it was fertilized with manure the year before.
Plant the seedlings to a depth of 5 cm, at a distance of 1x1 meter. From now on, remember to water it regularly. Abundant irrigation is especially necessary in summer when the weather is hot and dry. It is also necessary to weed the soil between plants. When the seedlings are accepted, it is worth applying additional fertilization with compost or well-composted manure.
Common artichoke grown on the plot
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Ifyou grow artichokesas perennials, the plants must be rejuvenated every 3 years. They are then reproduced by division. In spring, dig up the plants and divide them with a fork, spade or knife.Each plant obtained after dividing should have at least 2 shoots and a strong root system.
Wintering the artichokenot always successful. The aboveground parts freeze in our climate, but in spring the plant will come back to life if we only protect its root system. So before the onset of winter, cover the roots of the shoots with mounds of earth and cover the plants with straw.
Common artichoke - harvest and use
The artichoke inflorescences are harvestedfor food purposes at the end of summer, when they are still green. The edible part is the parts of the inflorescence head after removal of the hardened outer coat scales. The fleshy ends of the scaly covers of the inflorescence, the inflorescence itself, its bottom and the short end of the stem are eaten. You can eat it after cooking in s alted water. On the Internet you will find many interesting recipes for artichoke dishes, such as artichokes in cheese and mushroom sauce.
Also suitable for consumptionbleached artichoke stalks Perform bleaching in September. Place the collected young leaves (we collect 2 or 3 successively for each plant) in a dark room and cover them with sand or earth. After 3 to 4 weeks, they will be ready to eat.
LeavesArtichokeYou can also whiten before harvesting, while still on the plant. Then pin the leaves to the main shoot and tie them. Then wrap the plants with light-proof paper, leaving only their tops free.
