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About Cardoon

Cardoon is artichoke’s cousin, grown for thick, celery-like leaf stalks rather than flower buds. It is a vegetable (not an herb) and a statuesque perennial in Zones 7–10.

When to Plant

Start indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost. Transplant after frost, or direct-sow when soil is 60°F+.

How to Plant

Sow ¼–½ inch deep. Space 18–24 inches apart in full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Water regularly. To sweeten stalks, blanch: wrap the outer leaves up around the heart and tie, or hill soil, 2–3 weeks before harvest so stalks pale.

When to Harvest

After blanching, cut the plant at the base. Eat the thick inner stalks; discard the bitter leaf blades. Trim strings as you would celery.