Artichoke, Green Globe, HEIRLOOM, SEEDS, LARGE HEALTHY TASTY VEGGIE
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Country Creek LLC
Artichoke Garden Seeds
Description & Nutritional Value
Artichoke is one of the favorite winter season edible flower buds. Known as "Ankinara" in Greek, its use as a vegetable is well known to the ancient Greeks and Romans who advocated it for its medicinal and health benefiting qualities. Botanically, it belongs to the thistle family (Asteraceae), in the genus: Cynara. Scientific name: Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus.
Globe artichoke grows up to 1.5-2 m tall, with arching, deeply lobed, silvery-green leaves about 0.5 m long. If left alone, beautiful light pink, or purple flowers develop forming a large head from the edible buds. The bud is composed of compactly arranged triangular scales in a whorl-fashion around a central "choke." Several cultivars of artichoke grown and categorized based on their size color, and spine.
Green color, big size,
Green color, medium size,
purple color, big size,
Purple color, medium size,
Spine variety.
• Globe artichoke is low in calories and fat, it is one of the finest sources of dietary fiber and antioxidants.
• Fresh artichoke is an excellent source of vitamin, folic acid
• Fresh globes also contain moderate amounts of the antioxidant vitamin; vitamin-C
• It is one of the good vegetable sources for vitamin-K;
• It is an also a good source of antioxidant compounds such as silymarin, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid
• It is also rich in the B-complex group of vitamins such as niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin, and pantothenic acid
• Further, the artichoke is a rich source of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, iron, manganese and phosphorus.
• Additionally, it contains small amounts of antioxidant flavonoid compounds like carotene-beta, lutein, and zeaxanthin.
How to Grow In cold Climates
Important Note:
Planting in different regions is different. Please research your zone prior to planting. Green Globe Improved artichoke plants require a 120-day growing season.
1. Preparing site: Select a sunny location which has good drainage and rich, fertile soil. The plants prefer a soil pH between 6.5 to 7.5 and they prefer loose, fertile, well-drained soil. Work a generous amount of composted manure and organic soil conditioner into the soil to a depth of 12". Artichokes need sandy, quick-draining soil with high organic content; cool nights and warm days; and a regular supply of water. Mulching with a coarse, loose mulch will keep weeds down and moisture even. Full sun is a must
2. Planting seeds: In cold climates, start artichoke seeds indoors eight weeks before the last spring frost date. Sow them one-quarter inch apart in soilless mix; transplant seedlings into two-to-four-inch containers. Grow them on at 60-70 degrees F during the day and 50-60 degrees F at night. When they are six-to-eight weeks old, plant them in the garden two-to-three feet apart. To set buds artichoke plants need at least 250 hours of temperatures below 50 degrees F, a process called vernalization. Be sure to protect plants from frost.
3. Taking care of me: When the first leaves appear, apply a granular slow-release fertilizer. Artichokes are heavy feeders too, so it’s advisable to begin weekly applications with a diluted fertilizer solution. Apply a light layer of mulch around the plants to prevent weeds and cool the roots. Artichokes that get too hot grow too fast, forcing the flowers to open before the buds fully mature. Artichokes are spiny and thistly, so they have few pest problems. Once sprouted, keep the soil moist but not soggy.
4. Harvesting: Artichokes rarely produce in a single season. They need one to three years to produce high-quality edible flower buds. Harvest artichokes when they reach full size, but before the petals begin to open. The ideal artichoke is dense and compact. To harvest, cut the stem with a sharp knife a couple inches below the artichoke.
Best Ways To Serve
Artichokes are in season in the spring and fall, at first glance artichokes may seem like an intimidating vegetable. They are a spiny and tough vegetable, with a thistle at their heart, given a chance an artichoke will give you some of the most succulent taste in the veggie world. You can microwave or make even in a slow cooker, you can stuff them with all sorts of yummy food, you can grill them, they make a great addition to salads, you can also add them to soups, pasta or rice dishes
Origin
All Seeds are grown and packaged in the U.S. (Each bag is individually labeled)
Germination
All seed lots are tested for germination.
PLanting
Grow them on at 60-70 degrees F during the day and 50-60 degrees F at night.