CARDOON Red of Alger

Species: Cardoon
Latin name: Cynara Cardunculus L.
Inscription in the European catalog under: Rouge d'Alger
Other usual name: Cardoon - Cardoon of Spain - Wild Artichoke - Chardonette - de.Gemüseartischocke - en.Cardoon - Artichoke Thistle - Cardone - Cardoni - Cardi - es.Cardo de Comer
Variety: Red of Alger
Family: Astéracées, (Cynareae)
Origin: Southern Europe, North Africa

The Cardoon: Perennial variety, with very thick center stems which can reach 2 m in height,  it got blue violet flowers joined together to a flowerhead. The leaves are large, divided of a silver gray color. Stalks are spineless. Only the outside stalks of cardoons are eatable, as well as the flowerheads which look like a small artichoke, mostly used cooked in a juice or overbaked with cheese their flavor is very close to artichokes. Very rich in fibers and minerals.

Seed sowing: From May to June
Harvest cardoons: 5 to 6 months after sowings
Height: The cardoon plant can reach up to 2 m
Exposure: Sunny

Sowing instructions: Sow directly in place 3 to 4 seeds in a seedhole after any danger of frost has passed in a depth of 2 cm, or sow 3 to 4 seeds in pot under frame and transplant in a distance of 70 cm when plants got 4 to 5 leaves, only keep the strong plants and do not forget the watering. Cardoon is excellent for a winter storage.

Sowing distance: 70 cm between plants
Minimum seed sowing temperature: 12 °C
Seed germination: 10 to 15 days
Nutritional value: 13 Kcal for 200 gr.

Net weight of seeds: 4 gr. = +/- 90 seeds

All our seeds are sold with their sowing instructions.