Artichoke Globe - Romanesco flower buds have a purple/dark red tinge to them, slightly smaller buds and shorter than Green Globe but a fine flavour and hardier in winter.
SOW: February and March
HARVEST: July to October the following year
WHERE TO SOW
Indoors In pots or trays in greenhouse at 18°C. Outside in free draining soil in mid spring when the soil has warmed up. They will need an open spot with plenty of sun and well drained soil. Sow 2 to 3 seeds 30 cm apart.
WHAT TO DO NEXT:
When seedlings are large enough to handle, prick off into small pots. Harden off and grow on. Plant out 1 metre apart the following spring.
Add plenty of well-rotted manure to the planting site and add horticultural grit to clay soil to improve drainage. Rake in some general fertiliser before planting.
Keep seedlings and transplants consistently moist. Water well during dry and hot spells.
MATURITY
Large fleshy heads will be ready for use the following summer. July to October. Cut the edible flower buds when they are 3 to 4" in diameter. After harvesting, cut the plant back one third to encourage new buds to form.
HANDY TIP
After the main harvest, secondary heads will appear. These can also be cropped.
USEFUL INFORMATION
When the plant is in its first year, all its energy is put into growth. Any flowerheads that form at this time should be removed. In the second year the edible heads can be left on til they are harvested from July on.
