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Julia’s veggies - Artichokes Healthy Growing, Healthy Eating

Vegetable of the Season – Globe Artichoke: This is a very unusual vegetable
for several reasons. Firstly, the vegetable part of the plant is actually the flower bud!
Secondly, if it is not harvested it will turn into the most beautiful purple flower resembling a
thistle or Protea (see photo below).
Thirdly, as mentioned earlier, the grey-silver leaves are really beautiful and also have several
medicinal uses. Even eating an artichoke is a whole ceremony of its own!

Companion plants: Sunflower and tarragon. (Pics Pixabay)

...the whole heart in olive oil or pickle in vinegar. You can also make tea from the crushed
artichoke seeds or even sprout the seeds and add them to salads. Artichokes are delicious
and unique! They contain high amounts of vitamin A, C and all the B vitamins, especially
folic acid, biotin and niacin. The whole plant contains insulin, a polysaccharide that helps
to control blood sugar, and thus they are very valuable for diabetics. Artichokes are also
rich in iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and manganese. They have been found
to help in cases of anaemia, glandular disorders, obesity, kidney aliments, diarrhoea and
even chronic halitosis. They area good diuretic too. Artichokes are not recommended for

pregnant or breast-feeding woman as they contain a substance which curdles milk.
Organic Gardening Tips
• When growing artichokes add plenty of compost and organic fertiliser to the soil before
planting and after the harvest.
• Young artichoke plants need protecting from slugs – surround the seedlings with broken egg
shells or use a beer trap.
• Aphids can gather on developing heads. Spray with a jet of water and add some dishwashing
liquid to the water if they persist.
• Mulch with compost to help retain moisture around artichokes during the growing period.
They will survive drought but will not produce well if allowed to become too dry.
• In winter the leaves may die off but if you keep the roots well mulched to protect them from
such extreme weather they will grow back again in spring.
Email: jellyfishfarmer@yahoo.com
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