Space plants 1500cm by 1500cm in a position where they can grow up high.
Cardoons can grow 6m tall, so will block the view from a downstairs window!
Cardoons are perennial – and live for about 5 years.
Planting
Prepare the soil to give an even depth of fine particles and remove any stones.
Water the pot containing the Cardoon plant the night before planting out so that it is well soaked.
Remove the plant from the pot by gently holding the Cardoon leaves with finger and thumb whilst spreading other fingers over the soil in the pot, tipping the pot upside down and gently shaking the plant out.
Make a hole in the soil the size of the root ball. Place the root ball into the planting hole and carefully push the soil around the roots to fill in the hole. Firm the plant in so that the roots are in contact with the soil.
Water the newly planted Cardoon so that the soil is soaked. Use a can with a rose which will give a soft spray and not damage the leaves. Keep the soil damp until the plant is established, but not waterlogged.
Proteect the young plant from frosts by covering it over at night if frost is forecast.
Weed around the young Cardoon plant regularly so it does not have any competition for water, nutrients, or sunlight. It is easy to pull weeds out by hand as they appear.
Support the plant when it reaches 30cm tall to stop it blowing over in the wind. Knock a stake into the ground so that it is firm and tie the stalk to the stake with soft string. Mounding soil around the base of the stalk will also help stabilise the plant.
Flowers of Cardoons are like thistle flowers, large and purple. Bees love the nectar and pollen the flowers produce. But the flowers slow down growth, reducing the number of good stems for eating. Therefore, cut out the flower stems as they emerge if planning to eat the Cardoon. A second Cardoon plant could be kept for flowering, to give the garden colour and help the insects.
Blanching begins in October. Tie some shoots together with soft string and wrap them up in cardboard or sacking (whilst the plant is still in the ground) so that the tips of the shoots are peeping out at the end. Mound some soil around the base of the covering to help keep the light out. The covering is left on for 3 or 4 weeks to make the stems tender and sweeter.
Harvest the stems after 3 or 4 weeks of blanching. First remove the covers. Then either cut off individual stems as required or slice off the whole plant from the root, which will regrow next year. Use a sharp knife to cut the leaves.
Winter Care
Remove any broken or damaged leaves.
In extremely hard winters cover the roots over with straw to keep the frost out.
Mon - Fri 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat & Sun 9:00am - 5:00pm
Any questions? Email us or give us a call on 01904 400092.
