A popular plant –grown as much for its ornamental appeal as its delectable unformed flowers – globe artichoke is one plant worth making room for. It is a vigorous perennial reaching a metre or more in height, with humongous, deeply lobed silver foliage and edible flower buds in late spring and early summer, which form gorgeous purple flowers if left.
Globe artichokes grow in full-sun to part-shade positions and are dry-hardy once established. They grow well amongst other plants in the garden, making for a showy foliage contrast.
Marinated artichoke hearts
Although there’s a bit of work involved and a whole lot of plant for comparatively little harvest, marinated artichoke hearts are one of life’s great delicacies.
Ingredients
- 2 lemons
- 8 large globe artichokes
- 3 bay leaves
- 3 large garlic cloves, sliced
- 1.5 cups olive oil
- 1/3 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 1 tsp dried chilli flakes
- Salt and pepper
Method
Halve lemons, squeeze juice and place juice and squeezed halves into a large saucepan. Add 2L salted water, bay leaves and half the garlic. Remove small leaves from around the bases of the artichokes. Shorten stalks to 4cm and peel off tough outer skin. Cut the top 3cm from each. Gently prise open the artichokes before adding to saucepan to allow the water to penetrate.
Bring to the boil and simmer 45 minutes or until tender.
Transfer artichokes to a chopping board. Remove any fibrous outer leaves. Cut in half from tip to base. Carefully remove hairy chokes from the centres before arranging in storage container.
Combine oil, vinegar, parsley, chilli, salt and pepper, and remaining garlic in a bowl. Pour over artichokes. Cover container and refrigerate at least overnight.
Beautiful books
Root Nurture Grow
Root Nurture Grow: The Essential Guide to Propagating and Sharing Houseplants introduces readers to the wonderful world of indoor plant propagation. Propagating your own plants is a great way to learn, share and keep costs down. Not to mention home propagation using organic and upcycled products being kinder to the environment.
Authors Caro and Rose take you step by step through various propagation methods including division, cuttings, grafting, layering and runners, offsets and suckers. It also covers care of your indoor plants, particularly leading up to and post-propagation.
This handy sized hardcover is full of helpful photos, tips and inspirational ideas.
Details
Root Nurture Grow (November 2018) by Caro Langton and Rose Ray
RRP $29.99
Hardie Grant Books
ISBN: 9781787132184
Australian Dreamscapes
The creation of internationally acclaimed photographer Claire Takacs, Australian Dreamscapes: The art of planting in gardens inspired by nature is a visual journey through some of Australia’s most diverse and beautiful gardenscapes. Claire has a passion and appreciation for gardens and plants which are thoughtful to the surrounding landscape and climate, are bio-diverse and naturalistic, and give visitors an insight to their creators.
This beautiful hardcover book includes stunning photography and essays about 22 gardens. Owners and designers share their stories including the background, design, trials and tribulations of the gardens. The styles, settings, plant selections – native and exotic alike – and climates, are as unique as they are far reaching.
Details
Australian Dreamscapes: The art of planting in gardens inspired by nature (November 2018) by Claire Takacs
RRP $70
Hardie Grant Books
ISBN: 9781743794708
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