So, Lunabear—what is it? Leaf’s or leaves? Artichoke or cardoon? Love or lost? Well, we can’t answer one of those and we are excited to introduce a 2023 favorite—Albuquerque grown cardoon seeds. With showy end of the year flowers and distinct fernlike leaves like an artichoke, the biggest difference (we learned this year) that the leaves and midribs are edible when cook rather than traditionally eating the head. It requires a decent amount of time to cook/make cheese/etc and highly recommend:  https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/what-heck-do-i-do-cardoon-180950301/ for culinary

tips.                                                                                                                                         - Reaching up to 4-4.5ft tall and 3ft wide in 100 days, when fully mature. This is a perennial in warm climates and annual in areas when frost hits, but can be overwintered when covered with fabric cloth during winter so pick a spot wisely because it will take up some space                                                                           –Pick outer leaves gently before then for an early snack                                              –Direct seed 1 seed every ft and thin down to every plant 1 ft for maximum growth                                                                                                                                      –Plant in area with full sun and amend soil with compost, organic fertilizer, or  high quality plant in area you’re planting.                                                                           -Germinates in 10-14 days, can be planted right after last frost—usually mid-April in NM, but look up your planting zone or contact  info@spacedogfarms                                                                                                                   –Fully matures in 100 days, if you want to chop down everything at once for a cardoon feast, but we suggest eating stalks while it grows –Minimum 15 seeds