{"id":2719,"date":"2023-08-14T18:49:54","date_gmt":"2023-08-14T18:49:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardendad.co.uk\/?p=2719"},"modified":"2023-08-16T07:29:32","modified_gmt":"2023-08-16T07:29:32","slug":"how-do-you-grow-cardoon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gardendad.co.uk\/how-do-you-grow-cardoon\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do You Grow Cardoon In The UK?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you wondering how to grow cardoon in the UK? Then you\u2019ve come to the right place! Perhaps you fell in love with the plant, or you want to use it in cooking. Either way, I\u2019ve got you covered.<\/p>\n

Many plants cannot be grow in certain areas, but luckily for you it is perfectly possible to grow cardoon quite happily in the UK. Read on to learn in my new guide.<\/p>\n

How Do You Grow Cardoon?<\/h2>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

Cardoon do actually do quite well in an English garden, despite the fact that its family is native to the Western and central Mediterranean!<\/p>\n

With a little care and attention, you can have all your neighbours gasping in disbelief at your perfect cardoon garden.<\/p>\n

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  1. Starting from seed is very easy, and it\u2019s the best way as cardoons don\u2019t like to be moved – simply place one seed per pot in moist potting soil.<\/li>\n
  2. Keep the pots in a warm, sunny place, and mist them gently to keep the soil moist until you see the first seedlings sprout.<\/li>\n
  3. Harden them off in larger pots, before planting outdoors in the space where you want to them to grow.<\/li>\n
  4. You can also sow directly outdoors in the place where you wish your cardoons to grow. Allow 75-90cm between each seed to allow for growth.<\/li>\n
  5. Cardoons need a sunny spot, but remember that they can get quite large so watch what you plant behind them!<\/li>\n
  6. Their soil should be well draining, and you won\u2019t have to add too much mulch or compost – these are not very hungry plants.<\/li>\n
  7. Keep them well watered through the summer and remove the flower heads as they appear if you want to use the stems for eating.<\/li>\n
  8. In October and November, \u201cblanch\u201d the cardoons by wrapping cardboard or sacking around the plant, with the very tops of the leaves poking out.<\/li>\n
  9. Blanch for 3-4 weeks to remove the bitterness from the leaves and the help them become more tender.<\/li>\n
  10. This plant is a perennial, so as long as the winter is not too severe, you will see it popping its head up in spring, so you don\u2019t need to replant!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This video shows you how you can grow cardoon in the UK (including harvesting<\/a>):<\/p>\n