Artichoke Romanesco 2 organic plants

Discover Artichoke Romanesco, an Italian variety with large purple heads. It produces well-rounded, purple artichokes, 10 to 15 cm in diameter, with particularly fleshy scales. Grow these perennial gems in the garden and enjoy their delicious, fine-flavored leafy vegetables or their majestic blooms, attractive to a host of pollinating insects.

HOW TO GROW ROMANESCO ARTICHOKES?

Artichokes enjoy sunny exposures, away from trees or hedges, and deep, rich, well-drained soil.

Transplant artichoke plants in early autumn or spring, 1 m apart in all directions, and water abundantly at planting to ensure good plant growth.

Hoe the plants to keep the soil clean, and in late spring, add well-decomposed manure or compost.

To enlarge artichoke heads, pierce the center of the stalk with a thorn.

After harvesting in autumn, cut back the main stems to 2 cm above ground level, leaving the offshoots for the following spring. Mulch the plants before the first frosts and renew the mother plants every 3 to 4 years.

WHEN TO HARVEST ROMANESCO ARTICHOKES?

Artichokes generally produce a large flowerhead on the main stem, followed by a series of smaller flowerheads on the branches.

Artichokes are harvested before the flowers appear, when the lower scales of the flower heads, called bracts, are just half-open and those at the top are still tightly closed. Cut the stem 12 to 15 cm below the head, using pruning shears. The smallest heads on the branches can also be harvested when immature and eaten raw.

MULTIPLYING ARTICHOKES

Although the artichoke reproduces by seed, it can also be easily propagated by "œilletonnage" in March or April:

• remove the offshoots, or "œilletons", from the base of each mother plant by digging a knife deep into the soil;
• pare each shoot by cutting 20-30 cm above the plant with a chisel;
• pralinate the plant in a mixture of clay and water;
• plant the new plant, burying the collar by 2 cm ;
• water.

WHICH COMPANION PLANTS FOR ARTICHOKE PLANTS?

In the vegetable garden, Imperial Star artichokes are good neighbors for lettuce, broad beans, peas, onions, radishes, cabbages and beans.

Shipping and delivery of artichoke plants

Orders are dispatched Monday to Thursday.

• Shipment to mainland France only.
• Shipping cartons designed for optimal plant protection.
• Free shipping does not apply to artichoke plants.