Cardoon—to Look or to Eat?
Forum Archives
cjmiller
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Apr-14-2005 at 10:26am
In the photo gallery is a great picture of a pair of cardoon plants in Dawn Hummel's garden that Lisa posted.
At the HPS sale last weekend, I bought a start--actually 3 starts in a gallon container, and then after seeing the picture, I was astonished at the size it gets and have no clue as to how to prepare it if you are going to use it as food and not an ornamental or if one should plan to do both--I looked the plant gallery and got some culture information, but would like to hear from someone who actually knows something about sucessfully growing and harvesting this this plant.
Carol
Lisa A
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Apr-14-2005 at 8:19pm
Since it was Dawn's cardoons that prompted your question, I emailed her for advice. Here's her response:
"Cardoons can be treated as any other perennial - either as an ornamental plant or in a veggie garden, but since most workable plots are small, I recommend placing it in a garden border. At full size it will cascade over a 3ft area and doubles in size each year.
If you intend to consume the stalks, the best way is to wrap them in newspaper in winter and check often when the new shoots are coming out. Wrap in December for a February "white" harvest. Give your cardoon a minimum of 3 years before trying to harvest shoots. Bottom leaves will turn yellow and are easily removed.
Bake or steam with butter and seasonings. I have tried this and to be honest, it wasn't worth the effort - I recommend purchasing white asparagus instead."
Red Hare
Location: Oregon coast
Posted: Apr-19-2005 at 10:23am
I read somewhere that Italians use the root in cooking.
Fern
Location: Washington, Western Cascade Foothills
Posted: Apr-19-2005 at 1:54pm
Nichols Garden Nursery catalog has a short article called "Cardoons Demystfied". Basically it says to cut off all the green, scrub well to remove the bitterness, remove the celery-like strings, and boil for 30 minutes. They are related to arichokes.
They are a geat looking plant, I just don't know where I could put such a big plant in full sun. Someday I'll try one.
Fern
cjmiller
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Apr-19-2005 at 3:50pm
Hmmm, I think it looks beautiful and I already grow asparagus that cooks in minutes! I think looks trumps groceries this time!
Carol

Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton