MMMM, Good
I buy artichokes at the store every once and again. Since they are so pricey, they’re a rarity in our diet. This year I decided to try growing them. I’d read about people doing it in Vermont, and Eliot Coleman grows them on his farm here in Maine. So I started them back in February so I could give them the long season and the jolt of cold weather they enjoy.
As you can see, there were two different varieties in the pack of seeds I planted. Both of them are producing chokes at roughly the same time. I noticed the first choke about two weeks ago. Artichokes are wonderful in the garden, not only because they are delicious, but because they are stunning plants.
We harvested two and had them for dinner on Monday night, one of each variety. We dipped them in a mix of homemade mayo and a bit of balsamic vinegar and they were delicious. I’ll definitely be growing these in the future, I’m thinking they will be lovely in the ornamental beds, I love the robust texture of the leaves.
Did you grow any new vegetables this year?
Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (4)
My family loves artichokes too. I’m in central Maine and am very excited to hear that you have been successful with them. This is my first year growing in Maine so I did not plant anything new. Hearing of your success I will plant artichokes next year for sure. When did you transplant outside?
Thanks for your blogs!
Kim
to Kim Shrader's comment
I transplanted them in April so they’d still get some cold weather but not really hard freezes. You could transplant them into bigger pots and put them in a sheltered location as well, then transplant in May.
to Susy's comment
Susy, nope. No new vegetables this year. Now that I have some of the design structure done at Terra Nova Gardens, I can concentrate on growing and maintaining the beds next year. So maybe then will be the time to branch out and experiment with new vegetables. Mine probably would be squash. I have harvested squash in the past from volunteers but never planted it intentionally. The battle there is the dreaded vine borer.
Have a great artichoke eating day.
to Nebraska Dave's comment
Yes, these same artichokes! I wasn’t sure they got enough cold weather, but then I saw the first choke! Stunning plants. I am letting some if the chokes go to dlower because I want to see the blooms. I also tried some broccoli and cauliflower, just a few, and was happy to have modest auccess. Time to seed for the fall!
to MC's comment