Fingers crossed that mine actually bloom this year. 6 plants...two that have been in the ground for 2 years (this is the third season) and they're finally taking off...I have a coworker that had giant ones and I honestly was floored because I had no idea they got so big.
Isn't this an artichoke? At least that's what I Thought it was and was talking about (smile). Looks like my artichoke plants. Artichokes are thistles though...I think?
Yes, Bernadette, globe artichokes (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) are thistles. If you leave the last part of the scientific name, off, however, you have the "artichoke thistle," which is a pretty nasty weed.
Douglas will probably really laugh at this, but I am from south Louisiana ad you know we have thistles growing in pastures an along roadsides as once they make the flowers and dry their seeds blow and they spread like wildfire. But my mom and I used to eat the stalks. This is the funny part, when I was pregnant with my first child I craved them and ate many. The leaves have thorns so I would cut the plant close to the ground after wacking all of the leaves off at the stalk so as to not get
...»
stuck by the thorns. Chop of the top. Take the stalk to my kitchen and rinse inside and peel off the outer layer like celery, chop in about 1/2 inch slices and add salt, pepper and vinegar and eat them. As a little child I loved putting the little circles on each finger like thistle rings and eating them one at a time. We cajun country girls ate lots of natural things most people thought of as a weed. In the same cow pastures I picked black berries by the buckets to make pies, jams and just smash and eat with cream and sugar. YUM. Miss the good old days.
I'm with you Pam. Although I have never tried thistle I would have figured it to be edible since it resembles dandelion and I have eaten that before. We got a good patch of wild blackberries this year and our daughter just can't get enough of them, yet. Anyway some of the wild foods are better than the cultivated ones although they usually are a bit harder to harvest. But we will be looking forward to our passion fruits and persimmons when they get ready. Glad to know that the old country ways are not dead, although it seems that way sometimes.
I agree Paul. Non of those pesticides and harmful things in the good ole days! If only I could go back to those days, I would in a heartbeat and give up all the modern day conveniences. People worked hard but loved long and had happy times doig sinple things with family and close friends over a cochon-du-lait or just enjoying homemade ice cream out on the screened porch or just sitting on a large swing with the kids and our grandparents telling stories of when they were young. We are all
...»
to busy to truly appreciate life. Sad, because the youth of today will never know those things.
Becky, according to the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service, it gets too warm too fast here for us to have much success with artichokes. But there's a variety called "Green Globe" you might try. You purchase "stumps" and plant them in early spring.
Beautiful! Our artichokes (Purple Globe) produced this year and we're leaving the final few to go to flower. We have high heat and humidity here so they don't normally grow well but I put them in an area where they receive afternoon shade and that seemed to help.
HOWEVER, since moving back to the states, I understand in some states thistles are not to be grown. You may want to check your area.
I love them.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mv011