The Cardoon is a perennial plant, which develops a rosette of thick and spiky green leaves with succulent leaf stalks. A year after the seeds have been sown, the plant produces a 2 metre-long branched shoot, with lovely lavender inflorescences that appear at its top. The Cardoon is commonly used in two different ways; having been bleached, the leaf stalks are eaten like celery, whereas the predominant use involves using the plant as a decoration. The dried inflorescences are excellent for flower arrangements.

Growing: prior to sowing, soak the seeds in lukewarm water for 24 hours. Sow 2 to 3 seeds in each pot in March. The seeds germinate in 3 to 4 weeks at 20-25oC. After the germination has stopped, leave one plant in each pot. Plant out into the soil in 1x1m spacings starting in mid-May. Bleach the plants from September for around 3 weeks – the leaf rosettes need to be tied and covered with paper. Grow the plants in fertile permeable soils in sunny positions.

Each packet contains one gram of seeds.
Each packet includes a growing guide and a sow-by date.

Approximately 25 seeds (+/- 20%)