Cardoon
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marshlander
- A selfsufficientish Regular
- Posts: 1323
- Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:45 am
- Location: Cloddygate Farm, North Linconshire coast.
Yes, Grew it!
Beautiful, statuesque silver grey leaves topped with purple artichoke type flowers. Victorians used to tie up the plant to blanch the centre. Then cut the whole plant and eat the middle braised like celery hearts.
I had a whole bed of them but they looked so beautiful interplanted with white sweet rocket, that I could never bring myself to eat them. Plus I had plenty of space and growing food didn't matter so much then as I had money to burn at organic farm shops
Prob grow it again but in the ornamental garden.
Beautiful, statuesque silver grey leaves topped with purple artichoke type flowers. Victorians used to tie up the plant to blanch the centre. Then cut the whole plant and eat the middle braised like celery hearts.
I had a whole bed of them but they looked so beautiful interplanted with white sweet rocket, that I could never bring myself to eat them. Plus I had plenty of space and growing food didn't matter so much then as I had money to burn at organic farm shops
Prob grow it again but in the ornamental garden.
Terri x
“I'd rather be a little weird than all boring.”
― Rebecca McKinsey
“I'd rather be a little weird than all boring.”
― Rebecca McKinsey
I have two conflicting bits of advice ...
1. Chop the entire plant down in winter and mulch over the crowns.
2. Leave the whole plant to stand through the winter.
If it will stand, I want to grow it against the boundary fence. If not, I'll have to think again. Any advice from the person who's actually seen the stuff?
1. Chop the entire plant down in winter and mulch over the crowns.
2. Leave the whole plant to stand through the winter.
If it will stand, I want to grow it against the boundary fence. If not, I'll have to think again. Any advice from the person who's actually seen the stuff?
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MrsD'ville
- Barbara Good
- Posts: 127
- Joined: Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:50 pm
- Location: Herefordshire
We inherited these in our new(ish) garden, and I must confess we're not fans as they're so bl**dy huge! They're what I believe is termed 'sculptural', ie they take over and look dramatic, which is fine if that's what you're after.
I looked up eating them but the general consensus was 'don't waste your time', not tasty and rather tough. Sorry, not a fan, can you tell?!
I looked up eating them but the general consensus was 'don't waste your time', not tasty and rather tough. Sorry, not a fan, can you tell?!