First a little history… Artichokes have long captured the palates and imaginations of food enthusiasts worldwide. Their unique appearance, delicate flavor, and versatility in culinary applications make them a sought-after vegetable in various dishes. Beyond their gastronomic appeal, artichokes boast a fascinating history that traces back thousands of years. The artichoke's history can be traced back to the Mediterranean region, where its wild ancestor, the cardoon, flourished in the warm climates of Southern Europe and North Africa. Ancient Greeks and Romans were among the first civilizations to appreciate the artichoke's culinary and medicinal qualities. The Greeks even revered the plant for its purported aphrodisiac properties and considered it a symbol of fertility and immortality. During the Middle Ages, the artichoke took root in various European regions, and its popularity began to grow. The Moors in Spain are credited with further cultivating and introducing new varieties of artichokes. By the time of the Renaissance, the artichoke had firmly established itself as a prized vegetable in the culinary circles of Italy and France. The artichoke's journey from Europe to other parts of the world is intertwined with exploration and trade. In the 16th century, Spanish and Portuguese explorers brought the artichoke to the Americas, where it found fertile ground in the mild coastal climates of California. Over time, Spanish colonies and trading routes facilitated the distribution of artichoke plants to Latin American countries, where they also found favorable growing conditions. Once in the New World, the artichoke continued to gain culinary significance. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Italian immigrants who settled in the United States brought their love for artichokes with them. The city of Castroville, California, eventually became known as the "Artichoke Center of the World," owing to its vast artichoke cultivation and annual artichoke festival, celebrating this unique vegetable. As culinary techniques evolved, chefs and home cooks embraced the artichoke's versatility in various cuisines. From simple preparations like steaming and grilling to elaborate stuffing and incorporating it into pasta dishes, artichokes have found their way into numerous recipes. Additionally, the heart of the artichoke, prized for its tender texture and delicate flavor, has become a popular ingredient in salads, dips, and spreads. Beyond their delicious taste, artichokes boast a host of health benefits. Rich in dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, they promote digestive health, aid in weight management, and support heart health. Artichokes are also known for their antioxidant properties and potential to lower cholesterol levels. The artichoke's journey through history has been nothing short of remarkable. From its humble beginnings in the Mediterranean to its widespread cultivation across the globe, this thorny delicacy has firmly secured its place in the world of culinary delights. Whether steamed, grilled, or blended into a sumptuous dip, artichokes continue to captivate food enthusiasts, and their rich history adds a layer of fascination to every dish they grace. Globe Artichokes are a rewarding crop and add major interest to the garden. The fleshy bases of the outer bracts, the inner bracts, and the heart are edible, if allowed to fully bloom, they also make a great cut flower and can yield major economic value for the small farmer. A single plant can produce generous flowers, as many as 40 to 50 per plant! FOR GROWING INSTRUCTIONS, JOIN US ON PATREON >>
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Deep South summer heat can be a challenge, but there are a few veggies you can get started in July for a fall harvest. Providing shade or netting to protect from the hot sun and insects can also help get these new plantings established. With some pampering in the summer heat and intentional caring you can have an abundant early fall garden to enjoy. TOMATOES Start with some early season producers that can start setting fruit when temps drop back down to the mid 80's at night. Also plan to give them some frost protection. That first frost might hit mid November, but if you can get them through that brief spell you could be picking tomatoes into January. Also consider unripe green tomatoes, a Southern favorite. Varieties we like to grow in the fall: Early Girl, Azchyoka, Glacier and Sugar Baby PEPPERS You can start new peppers or cut back the ones you have been growing and give them some shade and frost protection and you will have peppers into January. Some early varieties that mature in 60+ days to consider include Rainbow Bell Peppers, Roumanian Rainbow, North Star, Corno Di Toro, Biscayne, Cubanelle, Spanish Spice, Giant Marconi, and of course, nothing producers earlier than our family heirloom DeFino Pepper. OKRA Okra loves the heat and can produce in 55 days! Clemson Spineless, Zeebest, Hill Country Red and Beck's Big Okra are some of our favorites. Direct seed and water them in. They tend to be mostly pest resistant, but watch for aphids. GREEN BEANS Direct seed green beans and you will have a harvest up to the first freeze. Bush Provider is our go to, but any beans can be reseeded for an early fall crop. Keep in mind some beans will need trellising. SUMMER SQUASH & ZUCCHINI Direct seed and protect with an insect netting until they first bloom. Choose early season varieties like Early Prolific and Cookneck, Spineless Beauty Zucchini and scallop squash varieties will set fruit in 45 to 55 days. CUCUMBERS Direct seed and succession planting every 2 weeks will give you a steady supply of cucumbers. With a little frost protection and shade to get established, cukes can produce for weeks after that first frost. Diva, Muncher, Early Prince, Straight Eight and Marketmore all produce in 60 days. BRASSICAS Start your seeds indoors or in a shaded greenhouse to get a head start on the season. Key to Brassicas in the South is to get them hardened off and planted early. Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts all need to be in the ground transplanted by mid Sept. Feed them heavy with nitrogen and get them off to an early start. CHINESE CABBAGE AND BOK CHOI We love to grow Chinese cabbage, mibuna, mizuna and bok choi. They do best in the fall as they get hit hard with the turnip beetle larva in the spring, so fall is your only window to grow in the deep south. So many varieties to choose from. Start your seed indoors or in a shaded greenhouse. After hardening off, have your transplants ready for mid Sept and give them a generous amount of organic fertilizer. GREENS Start indoors or in a shaded greenhouse. Collards, Kale, Arugula, Swiss Chard and lettuce (choose varieties not to bolt) all do great with an early planting. Help get them established with shade fabric if needed, and with early frost protection you will have beautiful greens late into the winter. HERBS You have time to get another early crop of basil before the first frost. Cilantro, parsley, lovage, sorrel, nasturtiums and cutting celery will all overwinter with an early harvest beginning early fall. The key to remember for July planting is providing a little shade can really help brassicas and greens to get established better in the heat. Also, be prepared for some light frost protection. We always seem to get that first frost mid November. If we can get them through that first chilly night, we may not have another frost until late December, giving us another month or two for tomatoes and peppers. Fall really is our favorite season to grow, and it seems like we can't get there soon enough after our hot southern summer. It's something we look forward to, when the nights cool back down and the end of a brutal dry season.
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AuthorBrad and Jenny have been professional growers for over 30 years. They raised their family homesteading in Texas and are considered "pioneers in the local food movement". They started from scratch and created the first and largest Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm serving Houston, TX. MORE ABOUT US >> Archives
September 2023
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