Porto Spineless Cardoon Greens (100 days)

A member of the artichoke family, cardoon is a fascinating vegetable and occasionally an ornamental. In European cuisine, the leaves are wrapped around the thick stalks to blanch them. The stalks are then eaten, fresh or cooked. The plants are quite meaty & tall. The Porto Spineless Cardoon Greens deliver a distinct artichoke flavor.  25 seeds   PLANTING Cynara cardunculus Germination: 10-18 days Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 70-80ºF Seed Sowing Depth: 1/2" deep Sowing Indoors: 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Sow 2-3 seeds per cell/pot. Sowing into individual biodegradable peat/cow pots reduces root damage when transplanting. Transplant after last frost, 24-36" apart Sowing Outdoors: Sow seeds in the fall if you live in zone 8 and above.  Harvest - After blanching in the cool weather of fall. To blanch- tied up stalks in late summer or fall, wrap in newspaper, and harvest after 3-4 weeks. Tips - Porto Spineless Cardoon Greens should be planted in fertile, well-drained soil. Amend soil with compost or well-rotted manure before planting.