I have to accept that one of my seed-grown artichokes is actually a cardoon. Last year I hoped and hoped, but when it made two plus metres and produced abundant tiny (but pretty) flowers I had to admit that this was no artichoke!
A quick interweb suggests the plants need to be harvested in late summer or early autumn, or another from December to spring! A friend from Provence says that they eat it as a gratin at Christmas, which fits with the winter harvest.
So, anyone grown, and more importantly cooked and eaten cardoons?

   

The beast in the summer last year. And now of course, instead of one giant there are three fighting for space!

After a flying start with fast germination I steadily pricked out seedlings of aubergines,  peppers,  chillies & tomatoes as the first true leaves appeared and while I expect everything to stop for a while I've realised that nothing is really growing on.
Most aubergines, pricked out in early March still only have a single pair of tiny leaves.  They have been indoors in the warm until about 10 days ago.  I know they were initially too dry, as I over-compensated for last year's fungus gnats,  but that was quickly rectified. 
I'm guessing the cheap compost is the problem,  do you think it's worth buying some better compost and repotting everything?  It all has to go in the ground by mid May as we'll be away then, so one month's time.
Thanks all.

I read today that some Portuguese country folk say that, if you have  Portuguese cabbage, onions and chickens in your garden you'll never starve.
On those lines, do you remember Desert Island Discs where you choose 10 records and a book and a luxury item to take with you when you're a castaway. 

My Nutty question is - what 10 items of food would you take with you to your desert island and what luxury food would you choose?

Ok I should know as I put it in the pot!

I'm pretty sure it's a herb, any ideas please?

   

What are these 2? I’ve just taken cuttings from them both. I’m pretty sure the cream/yellow/green one is an azalea? any idea on variety. Pink one I also thought azalea but not convinced.

         

Imagine that you were planting an Easter themed garden. Think lambs, eggs, rabbits and such like.
What appropriately named plants would you grow?

Hi Folks

Have you sown them indoors/undercover or outdoors?

Posting this under flowers - but it might be a vegetable. 
Has popped up just outside my back door.
Any ideas please?

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Ok boys & girls it time to educate the stupid ( that would be me ). 
What do I dig into my very easily waterlogged peat bog to make it useable? 
How to look after the brown / black stuff is one part of gardening I’ve never really been able to get my head round     . Which is very embarrassing. As it’s probably the most important part. 
Advice please.

Normally I'd mulch any bare soil with compost or clippings in the veg plot, or shreddings on the borders, but yesterday I cleared what will be the carrot and parsnip patch this year but couldn't decide between mulching and adding too much nitrogen or leaving it bare. 
I can't remember what I normally do so for now it's been left uncovered which feels very wrong with a sunny week of 20+ to bake the clay soil coming up!
Any thoughts