ARTICHOKE - TAVOR

 Organic Artichoke Imperial Star Tavor     

10 Seeds

Globe artichokes, native to the Mediterranean, have a long history of cultivation and culinary use. By 800 CE, they were introduced to North Africa and Spain, where they were domesticated as a food source. By the 12th century, artichokes were commercially cultivated in Spain and Italy, spreading across Southern Europe to France and eventually reaching England. 

The Tavor Imperial Star is an improved, open-pollinated variety of globe artichoke. It is not an F1 hybrid or genetically modified but rather grown from carefully reselected seeds. 

These plants typically reach a height of about one meter, producing round, unopened flower buds that are compact and layered with triangular, slightly pointed bracts. The bracts are thick, fleshy, and curved, with small spines at their tips. As the outer layers are peeled away, the bracts transition in colour from green to pale yellow or purple, decreasing in size toward the centre, where a tender heart is surrounded by immature florets known as the choke. 

When selecting globe artichokes, look for buds that feel heavy for their size and emit a faint "squeak" when gently squeezed. Young artichokes can be eaten raw, but most are harvested at a more mature stage and require cooking. Once cooked, the fleshy base of the bracts and the heart develop a soft, tender texture with a nutty, green, and slightly tangy flavour. 

    PLANTING & GROWING

Soaking needs to be done at least a few hours before planting, and preferably overnight. To prevent damping off when starting seeds indoors, it’s essential that you disinfect all of your plastic grow trays, seed cells, and seedling tray covers before you reuse them. 

Whether growing your seedlings indoors or out, for better germination, you can cold stratify your seeds for two weeks prior to sowing them.

Ideally light or loam soil and plant in a sunny and sheltered location. Good drainage is vitally important and they will never grow in clay soil.

Artichokes can be directly sown late in the year if growing as a perennial, or indoors 8 weeks prior to the last frost if growing as an annual in cooler climates. For best results, sow seeds in March and April in pots or trays of moist seed sowing compost .

Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into 7.5-10cm (3-4in) pots and grow in a warm, light position.

You can also direct globe artichoke seed outdoors when the soil has warmed up. Sow in a well-prepared seedbed, placing 2-3 seeds at stations 30-50cm (1-3ft) apart.  When large enough to handle, thin out the seedlings to 1 per station and then finally 60cm (2ft) apart. 

Globe artichokes become more prolific each year until, after several years, they run out of steam and the plants need to be replaced.

The best companion plants you can grow next to artichokes i are sunflowers, tarragon, and the cabbage family. Peas, in particular, are good artichoke plant companions because they exude nitrogen that  gladly leech up from the soil.