Artichoke Gros Vert de Laon - Ferme de Sainte Marthe seeds - Cynara scolymus

<p style="text-align: justify"><strong>The <a href="https://www.promessedefleurs.ie/vegetable-gardens/vegetables-by-variety/artichokes.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">artichoke</a> is a flower-vegetable</strong> from the Asteraceae family. It is a cousin of the cardoon and the thistle, consumed for its inflorescence at a stage preceding flowering. From this unopened head, we consume the leaves and the heart, which are, botanically speaking, bracts and the floral receptacle. The <strong><em>"artichoke season"</em> extends from spring to autumn, depending on the varieties and the year of cultivation</strong>.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">In France, the artichoke was initially cultivated in the Mediterranean, but since the 19^th century, this vegetable has mainly been grown in the West, particularly in Brittany, in Finistère, where varieties have been selected for their adaptation to the mild climate. This is the case, for example, for the varieties <em><strong>'Camus de Bretagne'</strong></em> and <em><strong>'Gros Vert du Laon'</strong></em>, whose heads are much larger than those of the southern varieties. Today, the other production region is located in the Pyrénées Orientales, where varieties like <em><strong>'Violet de Provence'</strong></em> or <em><strong>'Vert de Provence'</strong></em> thrive particularly well.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">The cultivation of the artichoke is possible throughout France, but it is a plant that dislikes one thing: cold! In the coldest regions, it must be protected by a thick mulch of leaves or straw to help it survive the winter. In mild regions, with a strong oceanic influence, this precaution is often unnecessary. It enjoys a <strong>sunny exposure</strong> and requires <strong>rich and light soil.</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify">To grow it in the vegetable garden, <strong>it is possible to start from seeds or young plants.</strong> Sowing is done early, as soon as February, in a warm environment inside the house. Planting can take place, depending on choice, in spring or autumn. It is an easy-to-cultivate vegetable that requires little maintenance, apart from some vigilance during the formation of the heads. Indeed, they often attract aphids!</p> <img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-37549" src="https://www.promessedefleurs.com/blogwp/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/artichaut-bretagne.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="900" />