CARDOON (C. cardunculus) is an ancient cultivar from the Mediterranean region. The same genetic family as artichoke, and just as delicious, but although it sets a beautiful thistle-like flower, it does not produce a fruit like regular artichoke. Instead, it is the celery-like stalks that are eaten, fresh or cooked. It also is used as a coagulant in sheep-milk cheese-making. This is also a truly beautiful garden decorative (Martha Stewart featured in her re-design of the Luce Herb Garden.). Give it room. 110 days. 10 seeds.

MEDICINAL: The leaf of the artichoke makes an excellent digestive tea as it stimulates the gallbladder and the release of bile counteracts excessive stomach acids and excessive fats. So it is a useful treatment for gas and bloating. Also detoxifies the liver (Warning: do not use if you have gallstones, and safety has not been established for pregnant women, nursing mothers or children.)

ABOUT ARTICHOKES: Artichokes or "chokes" as they are commonly called, are a member of the thistle family native to the Mediterranean. Artichokes date back thousands of years and were referenced in Greek mythology as a sensuous vegetable favored by the gods. It has also been a favorite of aristocrats and affluent members of society. The Artichokes we eat are the immature flower bud of the plant which is called the "heart". Usually steamed, they can also be eaten raw or cooked. The heart, or center of the bud, is eaten along with small, tender outer leaves. The stem is also edible and best cut an inch or so below the bud. Although artichokes grow wild in southern Europe, most of the artichokes you see in the store are California grown. But it is possible to grow certain varieties in the home garden, depending on your growing cycle.

GROWING TIP: Artichokes are perennials, so choose your location in the garden carefully, providing protection if possible both from the elements and foot traffic. Mine thrive even during harsh winters when put under a glass cloche in Autumn and lifted again when spring arrives. Artichokes will rarely produce flowers the first year. Sow seeds one inch deep spaced 5-6 inches apart. Rows should be spaced 5-6 feet apart. Thin plants to two 2/12 feet apart. Cut back in fall and heavily mulch to protect from the cold and prevent heaving. Pull the mulch back in Spring. When the chokes appear you must cut them before they flower - unless you are growing to achieve seed only.

TO GATHER SEED: If you want to save artichoke seed for future use or to share, select the very best chokes (in the second year) and mark for seed gathering by tagging the stalks. Let these "go to seed" or pass the edible stage. Their scales will get hard and purple florets will cover the head. Little side buds will emerge which you will want to pinch off so that all the strength of the plant is reserved for seed production. You may also want to cloak with a garden cloth or bend the seed stalk over to protect the seed heads from the rain. The seeds are found in the seed case after the white thistle down has blown away. Extracting seeds from the spiny calyx is difficult and you'll probably want to use gloves to protect your hands.

CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM GARDEN SEEDS & PLANTS offer hundreds of heirloom and vintage open-pollinated varieties. Most have histories dating back centuries and are tried and true producers. Some are rare, or threatened with extinction. When you grow a plant from heirloom seed and save that seed, you are participating in a practice that goes back for generations. Our grandparents and their grandparents grew these varieties. Often the seeds were prized possessions carried to the New World when they emigrated.

Ever notice how most seed catalogs require you to buy much more seed than you could possibly use in a season? If you have a budget for garden seeds, this limits your choices! Although seeds can be viable for longer than one growing season, it requires that they be stored at a consistent temperature and humidity. Few of us do this. CherryGal sizes its seed packets for the home gardener, because we know you may want to grow 5 different lettuces, or three different corns, or 50 different vegetables, herbs and flowers -- and don’t want to have to take out a second mortgage to pay for it all! We strive to keep our overhead as low as possible so our seed prices can stay as low as possible. So we do not have a huge staff, no printed catalogues -- just very fine fresh heritage seeds at unbelievable prices. CHERRYGAL SEEDS ARE A TREMENDOUS BARGAIN!

Another important reason to grow a large variety of plants is that one of the chief culprits in honey bee colony collapse disorder seems to be that their immune systems are weakened by the prevalence of commercial mono-cropping. In other words, bees pollinating only one variety crop have a diet equivalent to eating only bread. Growing an abundant variety of vegetables, herbs and flowers will help sustain our precious honeybees!

All seeds offered are FRESH stock, with high germination rates, tested by the growers and myself. Varieties are specially selected for home gardeners. If you want the flavor you remember from grandma's kitchen garden or the beauty of her cottage flowers, choose CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM SEEDS.

ABOUT OPEN-POLLINATED SEEDS . . . All CherryGal Heirloom Seeds are heirlooms (dating at least 100 years) or vintage (mid-20th Century or older) varieties, with an occasional modern variety included which I believe merits special attention. All CherryGal Heirloom Seeds are OPEN-POLLINATED. This means saved seed will be true to the parent. Don't be dazzled by the never-ending array of hybrid seeds promoted by gardening suppliers. First, seeds from that produce will not grow true to the parent -- you have to keep buying the hybrid seed (get the picture?). Second, most hybrids are developed for market – not home -- growers with an emphasis on extended shelf life, storage and shipping qualities -- NOT flavor, texture, fragrance and all those other elements that home growers seek.

All CHERRYGAL HEIRLOOM SEEDS come from reputable growers (with a preference given to small independent farms) and wherever possible ORGANIC suppliers (so noted). We do not knowingly offer any genetically modified seeds, and customers should understand that in order to be designed “certified organic” a seed is by law not genetically modified. By buying CHERRYGAL SEEDS you are supporting the growing worldwide movement of SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE and with a little practice you will be able to save even more money in the future by growing these open-pollinated varieties and saving seed for next year.

Please Note: CherryGal Heirloom Seeds are guaranteed to be fresh to the season stock, but are not guaranteed as to results. Sorry, but there are too many variables in gardening that can impact germination so please do not ask for a refund, replacement or to return unused seed. I always recommend that if you are new to gardening, or to a particular type of plant or variety, that you grow just a few at first to test your germination method. Email with any questions - I always respond promptly. Having said all that, we think you will be pleased and would like to hear about your gardening success!

SPECIAL NOTE TO MARKET GROWERS: We market to the home gardener, but we are happy to fill your order for multiples of any variety available. We do not offer bulk discounts. Also, we will not accept responsibility for crop failures, so please keep that in mind as purchase constitutes acceptance of 100% of the risk involved in growing any seed offered at CherryGal.com.

SHIPPING: This is important! Practiced gardeners know that the best time to order seeds is as early as possible in the season. I do not list varieties for sale that are not in hand, unless it is noted as "coming." I also add/subtract varieties all season long as inventory fluctuates, so check back often. We are constantly improving our fulfillment procedures to decrease the amount of time from order to shipping. We have added a SHIPPING BANNER to the front of the site and on every listing page which will give you the current time frame for shipping seeds. In off-season, seeds ship very quickly - usually the next business day. But as the prime season comes on, shipping can slow. Please consult this shipping banner before you purchase, so there will be no disappointments! We fulfill orders in the order received. Choosing priority or express shipping does not influence the speed with which your order is processed, only the speed with which it moves through the postal system. I package my seeds for shipping in a manner appropriate to the amount and type of seed - larger orders and larger seeds require more packaging. Whether you choose first class mail or priority shipping, your seeds will ship using a delivery confirmation number which will be supplied to you. Our checkout system is keyed to the US Postal System. For small seed orders, I recommend choosing FIRST CLASS mail at checkout. Larger orders (over 13 ounces) can ship either parcel post, or you may find PRIORITY MAIL to be less expensive, depending on your zipcode. (I gave up trying to figure out the US Postal System rates a long time ago).

I appreciate all my CherryGal.com customers, but have a special affinity for my seed customers. If you have a problem, please email me, using the contact links that are all over the website. Calling is likely to be a frustrating experience, as I do not have the staff to answer the phone, but your email will be promptly responded to.

Lastly, keep an eye out for my end of season sale which starts in June until all inventory is sold. It is always a bargain and helps us clear the shelves each season so that I am offering you only the freshest seeds year to year. Happy Gardening and don't forget to share your garden surplus with your local food bank.