Cardoon

Growing

As a member of the thistle family, cardoon brings a striking, architectural presence to your garden with its massive, silvery-grey foliage. Because these are large perennials, you should prepare your planting site with well-draining soil maintained at a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. If you are growing the variety selected for edible stems, you can even manage them in containers, provided they have enough room for the root system to expand.

When your plants are established, you can harvest the thick, fleshy leaf stems once they reach a desirable size. Unlike many other vegetables, the stems do not improve in flavor or tenderness after they are picked, so you must harvest them when they are ready to use. To keep them fresh, store the unwashed stems in your refrigerator.

If you are growing a cultivar from the artichoke group, you will be looking for large, edible flower buds. These plants are excellent for supporting local biodiversity, as their large blooms are highly effective at attracting pollinators to your garden. If you find the plant becoming too large for your space, you can propagate new plants through division of the base.