Last year I was given a packet of green globe artichoke seeds.
Was beginning to wonder if the space and effort needed to grow a few giant thistles was worth it.
Jeez, you bet it is! Followed some web site as to how to cook them, didn't have any vinaigrette so I had them with salad cream.
They was bloody gorgeous!
Love them myself but agree that they take up a lot of room.
Had them in a restaurant in Mallorca served as a cup and the cup was filled with fresh wilted spinach. Out of this world.
No matter what they say, you can not beat fresh
I only grow the other Artichokes!! :-[
I agree. Beautiful plants ;D
Mine arent as big as the ones you see in the shops. Will they get that big or should I pick them smaller before they open?
Mine are Green Globe Improved.
Thanks.
cj :)
they are weeds they grow all over the place
Cj, ours do not get as big as shop ones not in our climate but we eat them before they open.
I have two and one cardoon, they look brilliant anyway. When should I expect them to get to the edible stage?
I have already eaten this year's artichokes ;)
Gorgeous
You will know when to harvest when they start to open up (Otherwise they are a tight ball shape). No matter what the size, once they start to widen at the top, they are at maturity. Don't forget they get bigger year after year!!!
I seem to have more this year...trouble is there is only one again nearly ready and 4 to fight over it.
Speaking of the other artichokes....so called weeds I didn't replant mine as they're a sort of hedge and last year they came back up as you would expect this year there is no sign of them except a stray where i had dug them up and not replanted.
I've been given a few of the Jerusalem type. I've never had them before either. I've planted them and now I'm looking forward to trying them. How long do they take?
I've tried many new veg since I got my plots, some I never knew existed. Great fun.
Mine look like they are opening at the bottom, but the top is still firmly closed. Do you think they are ready?
cj :)
I would say they are ready carolinej. I have a lovely row and have more artichokes this year than ever before and I pick them when they are very small and you can eat almost all of it, or I let them get huge and peel the leaves off one at a time dipping them in peppery butter - I don't like vinegar so can't do the dressing thing. Leave some to flower as the bees love them and they get almost drunk inside the huge fluffy flowers.
Any chance of a brief description of how you prepare and eat them ::)
Last year, I had a few tiny ones, but didnt know exactly how much of them was edible.
Thanks
cj :)
Quote from: carolinej on June 02, 2008, 20:12:58
Any chance of a brief description of how you prepare and eat them ::)
I followed this...
http://www.cookeryonline.com/Artichokes/index.htm
From Biscombe spanish seed swap last year I had four artichoke seeds - all of which germinated and planted out.
I know if will be next year before I get any artichokes - but I really like the achar-grilled marinated baby artichoke hearts you get in Italy. I have a recipe and I am waiting............hopefully not too long ;D
Thanks, that's really helpful. If only it wasnt pouring down, I'd go and pick some now.
Ah well, will try tomorrow.
cj :)
Suzanne,
what is achar grilled ???
cj :)
It's char-grilled when you haven't accidently hit the a as well!!
I was taught to type - about 30 years ago when I was still at school but have developed random little fingers that seem to add letters when I I don't want them too. Also always too impatient to spell check. :-[
This time of year I pick mine between golf/tennis ball size then you can eat most of the bud as there's no choke (just slice off the tough bit of leaf at the top). I leave them to get bigger later on then you get the big base which IMHO is the best bit :P :P :P
see 2 I's
Aaaah, all is becoming clear now ;D
cj :)
Just realised if my little fingers get too randommthen I can I, I, I, I too many times and almost become Carmen Miranda.
No ....................oops i'll get me coat.
Was two "y's" in my day :-D Two y's you are two y's you be, I see you are two y's for me :-D
Just remember, always proof read carefully in case you something out.
;D ;D ;D
cj :)
Graffiti on a toilet wall...
LOLOAQIC, I82QB4IP.
;D ::) need to be extra careful - don't want to be saying something I <> mean
Plot69 re: J'artichokes I leave them till the end of the year then dig them up as wanted,they don't seem to store once lifted.
Divine soup.
Quote from: Plot69 on June 02, 2008, 21:40:42
Graffiti on a toilet wall...
LOLOAQIC, I82QB4IP.
Yeh, they don't do graffiti like they used to
Here I sit broken hearted
Paid a penny and only farted
It is 20p now and after eating Jerusalem artichokes, could get expensive they do have that effect!
if anyone wants a pic of a ripe artichoke, look at my blog, I have pics of mine harvested. This is a big artichoke growing area here so we all kind of experts ;D ;D - They should have a fat round base and be quite closed still at the top. Once the tops of the leaves start to fan out, they need picking or they will flower.
I cook mine in teh pressure cooker, all squashed in, about 35 minutes. You can also steam them if you have a steamer, it's longer, 45-50 for big ones. Personally I like the big ones.
You can cut them in half once cooked, scoop out the "choke" (the hairs as we call it here) and stuff them - stuffed with a creamy garlicky mushroom mixture is very nice.
In fact I just bought 3 big ones at the market this morning ;D ;D jealous??
It's fine here this evening, so I think I'll pop over the lottie and pick some.
I am a bit of a panicker when it comes to eating new things ::) so thanks for the advice. I wouldnt have thought i could eat the leaves too.
cj :)
You can store JA's in a clamp... to stop them drying out, we use old compost and a large bucket... ;D