The Artichoke (Cynara scolimus L.) belongs to the Astraceae family, formerly the Compositae's family. The group we are interested in is Cynara, which comprises eight spontaneous types growing in the Mediterranean area, which was discovered around the XV and the XVI centuries.

Of great importance is Cynara Cardnculus L.var. Silvestris, being the first kind of artichoke and cardoon cultivated (Cynara Cardunculus L. var. Cardunculus).

Artichoke is an herbaceous plant, its inflorescence is protected by bracts. The bracts are the tender and tasty edible part.

The hermaphrodite flowers are blue, they are assembled in a little head like inflorescence with an external pulpy part where its inner bracts are tender and its outer bracts are hard and fibrous.

There are two varieties of artichokes "thorny" and "non-thorny" depending on the presence at the top of the bracts or on the leaves of strong thorns. This
two varieties can be divided in "non-flourishing twice" and "flourishing twice".

The artichoke is propagated by :seeds, cardoons and ovules.

Seed:
Sow directly in the seed-bed or into seed pots, then plant the seedlings into the ground.

Cardoons:
Choose the best cardoons growing on the stalk, clean and then plant in the ground.

Ovules:
They are the dried and cleaned cardoons.