FLOWER GARDEN

Closely related to the globe artichoke, the blanched stalks and main root of the cardoon are eaten instead of the undeveloped flower-head. It is hardly suitable for small gardens, but in large ones it is often grown in trenches like celery, but given more room. The trenches should be larger, and be 4 ft. apart, with the plants 3 ft. apart. The seeds may be sown under glass in March and the plants put out in May. Another way is to sow in the open ground in April for the current year’s yield. The plants are generally strong enough for blanching in August, when the leaves are drawn together, bound round with straw to the tips, and covered with earth. They blanch in about two months. Recipes suitable for cooking celery (q.v.) may be used for the cardoon.