Gardening


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 * Latin Name: ** Cynara scolymus
 * Common Name: ** Globe artichoke
 * Family: ** Compositae
 * Author: ** L.


 * Known Hazards: ** None known


 * Mature Height: ** 1.5 **Mature Width: ** 1

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 * <span style="color: teal; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Habitat: **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> Not known in the wild.

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 * <span style="color: teal; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Cultivation Notes: **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> Prefers a light warm soil and an open position in full sun[15, 16, 33, 37]. Requires plenty of moisture in the growing season and a good rich soil[200]. Prefers a sheltered position[200] but plants are reasonably wind resistant[K]. Plants are tolerant of saline conditions[4]. Plants succeed in cool climates though they may need protection in cold winters[200], they are unlikely to thrive in the north of Britain. Wet winters are far more likely to cause problems than cold ones[4, K]. The globe artichoke is often cultivated in the garden and sometimes commercially for its edible flower buds, there are some named varieties[183, 200]. It is best to renew the plants by division of the suckers every 3 years but they do live for a number of years[200]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233]. The flowering plant is a magnet for bees[108].


 * <span style="color: teal; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Propagation Notes: **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. Germination is usually quick and good, prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions during the summer. It would be prudent to give the plants some winter protection in their first year. The seed can also be sown in situ in April. Sow the seed 2cm deep, putting 2 or 3 seeds at each point that you want a plant[1]. Protect the seed from mice[1]. Division of suckers. This is best done in November and the suckers overwintered in a cold frame then planted out in April. Division can also be carried out in March/April with the divisions being planted out straight into their permanent positions, though the plants will be smaller in their first year.


 * <span style="color: teal; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">General Uses: **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> A dark grey dye is obtained from the leaves[7].

**__ In the garden __**

For a dry sandy front verge- sea lavender & statice

Tough flowers: zinnia stunning flower Aquilegia - love in the mist. (Nigella Damascena) self seeding companions: plant marigolds with tomatoes & dig them in when dead feeds soil & prevents nematods follow plantings of onion, leek, cabbage, carrots, parsnips. add egg shells to soil mixture. asparagus: good drainage live for 15 years. avoid female plants (red berries) sun & sandy compost dug in. plant in spring 45cm apart. in autumn cut yellowing tops down. feed with seaweed solution. avoid harvesting spears for 1-2 years.

artichoke: take cuttings from side shoots in spring. compost before planting. lives 5-6 years. give manure in spring.

blueberries: no lime - no concrete pots. likes acid- old pine needles. grow for 30 years! protect from hot summers. Fruit trees:Peach & nectarine: don’t let them dry out, mulch – give hem nitrogen in autumn - Compost freely & regularly high nitrogen early spring. Fishmeal, seaweed, around drip line. Peach leaf curl: spray 3 times: after leaf fall, early to mid winter, and before buds bloom use a lime sulphur or Bordeaux.

Avocado: feed complete food every 6 weeks in summer- spring mulch in winer to keep them warm

Mango: need well drained but not rich soil. Feed when established 2-3 times in summer

citrus: yellow. old leaves- iron deficency yellow new leaves- magnesium deficency

try: ceylon spinach - climber good in summer dies off in winter Herbs to try: perilla an annual

stawberries: water from below. morining sun, like acid- add brown pine needles. plant then cut runners. loose lettuce: grow fast. high nitrogen, fish fertiliser fine spray every 2 weeks.

Cuttings: Hard wood: takes longer to root than soft wood cuttings (top new growth). Suitable for: roses, wisteria, hydrangeas, hibiscus, use hormone powder or honey. Shave off a sliver from the base, remove most leaves, make a hole first so don’t wipe off honey. Don’t double dip – contaminate honey/ hormone powder. Keep warm 7 moist for 2-3 months