Artichoke Violet de Provence originates from France. This old Heirloom variety is very reliable and very populair. It produces thick and wide flower heads with purple - green leaves and bordeaux red till dark purple fleshy petals. Use as vegetable cooked in water with some lemon. You eat the fleshy petals and the bottom when the hay is removed. It's also a very decorative garden plant with purple-green leaves. Protect well in winter against cold weather and frosts then it will survive the winter. Semi hardy perennial. Height: 100 - 150 cm.
Indoor sowing: February-April
Outdoor sowing: April-June
Sowing depth: 2-3 cm
Germination: 1½-3 weeks
Germination temp.: 15-20 °C
Plant distance: 100 cm
Planting position: sunny
Harvest period: August-October
Sow indoors from February on in individual pots 2 seeds per pot about 2-3 cm deep. Cover the seeds with sowing soil because artichokes don't need light to germinate. Put the pots in a warm room or in a propagator. Thin to 1 strong seedling when the seedlings are large enough to handle.
Transplant the seedlings in may (avoid frosts) outdoors to 1 meter apart. Artichokes need a warm sunny spot with free draining soil. Keep weed free and moist.
Sow outdoors from April on, when the day temperature is about 15 °C. Sow 3-5 cm deep and cover the seeds with sowing soil. Thin when the seedlings are about 15 cm tall to 1 meter apart.
Harvest your artichokes when the buds are large but closed. Cut of the bud with a piece of stem attached to it. Use the artichokes the same day. Wilted buds can be refreshed with cold water.
