Harvesting the Artichokes
Posted: May 9th, 2009 | Author: KMT | Filed under: Artichokes, Gardening | Tags: Artichokes, Central Texas Gardening | 3 Comments »
Seven Artichokes Today
Unlike my other ongoing series “Things to do with Spinach” and “Things to do with Carrots”, there is no creativity involved with artichokes: you cook them, you eat them. (I suppose if you had unbelievable shitloads you could pick them small and pickle them, or throw most the it away and just use the hearts in various dishes; but I don’t think I could stand to be that wastefull!)
This one is Fixing to bloom
I am growing a LOT of artichokes this year (I have ten plants), but both of my neighbors adore them, so I am never going to be burdened with too many. The major variety involved with artichokes, for me, is whether to eat them hot or cold. But in the weather we have been having (low 90′s and 2000% humidity) I have been favoring COLD.
Oooh! They’re so pretty. I have not yet ventured into artichoke-growing world, but I’m inspired now and intend to try ‘em next Spring. (How early do I plant them?)
Holy moly. Those are some dang pretty artichokes. Yum! Your garden seems to be doing QUITE well this year! (: Congrats! When we decide to plant one, we’re definitely going to have to get advice from the pro. (:
Iris: They are planted in the fall…I think in my Previous post about artichokes, I detail how The Natural Gardener has both artichoke root balls and “secret” (as in the staff doesn’t appear to know they have them, or pretends they don’t know!) tiny artichoke plants.
Some People’s artichokes live through the summer and get bigger all the time; (Valerie’s always live, and my Mom’s did too) but I think it depends on where in the yard they are planted, and if you live in the country where it is cooler, they do better. I had TWO out of 7 live through last summer. It was a surprise when they came up! I thought they had died in the heat and drought.