'Plein Blanc Inerme'	The plant has large smooth solid white stalks[183]. Smaller than most cultivars, it grows up to 1.2 metres tall and wide.
'Large Smooth'	A select strain that is much improved over the old artichoke-leaved type. It has smooth thick heavy stalks. The plant grows to about 1.8 metres tall and requires a rich soil.
'Gigante d'Ingegnoli'	The plant has large very tender stalks, completely free of spines. It is somewhat resistant to dry growing conditions.

Experimental yields of 20 - 30 t/ha of dry matter have been obtained. The plants do not have pollutant properties, they help to combat erosion in dry-farming areas throughout Europe. Production and factory costs are currently under study and are not currently published.


Constraints upon Production
Some of the major problems with using Cardoon for industrial purposes are that it requires high nutrition and can initially be relatively costly to produce. Plague control is also a problem as once the plant has become established it is relatively difficult to eliminate from the land. Finally problems with illnesses and weeds require further study to optimise production. Control of such problems are currently difficult, one solution being looked into is varieties with minimum wastage.


Markets and Market Potential
The cardoon has become important as a medicinal herb in recent years following the discovery of cynarin. This bitter-tasting compound, which is found in the leaves, improves liver and gall bladder function, stimulates the secretion of digestive juices, especially bile, and lowers blood cholesterol levels.

The leaves are anticholesterolemic, antirheumatic, cholagogue, digestive, diuretic, hypoglycaemic and lithontripic. They are used internally in the treatment of chronic liver and gall bladder diseases, jaundice, hepatitis, arteriosclerosis and the early stages of late-onset diabetes. The leaves are best harvested just before the plant flowers, and can be used fresh or dried.

At one time the cardoon was often grown for its edible stems but it has now fallen into virtual disuse. There are some named varieties. It is a very ornamental foliage plant and makes a very attractive feature in the garden. The leaves are long lasting in water and are often used in flower arrangements.

Cardoon is cultivated for the blanched leaf stalks and midribs, eaten as a boiled vegetable, usually with white or cheese sauces such as béchamel, or with butter, garlic and anchovy sauces like Italian bagna cauda. Cardoon is also used as a rennet substitute, particularly in the processing of some regional cheeses in Spain.

Cardoon can be used for industrial purposes as a form of generating heat and electricity. It also has the potential use of producing motor fuel, targeting market demand for a reduction in fuel costs.


Other Information
The seeds should be sown in early spring in a greenhouse. Germination is usually quick and good, prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions during the summer. It would be prudent to give the plants some winter protection in their first year.

The seed can also be sown in situ in April. Sow the seed 2cm deep, putting 2 or 3 seeds at each point that you want a plant. The seed rate is generally 10,000 plants/ha. The plant prefers a light warm soil and an open position in full sun and does not grow in the shade. For best results, this plant requires plenty of moisture in the growing season and a good rich soil, though it is drought tolerant once established. It tolerates most soils including nutritionally poor soils and heavy clays of both acid and alkaline nature. The plant can tolerate strong winds but not maritime exposure. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits.

This species is hardy to about -10°C. Plants are more likely to require protection from winter cold when they are grown in a heavy soil. Wet winters can do more harm than cold ones.

Division of suckers. This is best done in November and the suckers overwintered in a cold frame then planted out in April. Division can also be carried out in March/April with the divisions being planted out straight into their permanent positions, though the plants will be smaller in their first year.


Research


Useful Websites

Picture of Cardoon (Cyanara cardunculus) – http://nnlm.gov/pnr/uwmhg/mhg94022.html


BioMat Net

Cardoon (Cyanara cardunculus)

AIR2-CT92-1089 - Cynara cardunculus L. as New Crop for Marginal and Set-Aside Lands

Crops for Paper/Pulp

Crops for Solid Biofuels


Contacts

AIR2-CT92-1089: Cynara cardunculus L. as New Crop for Marginal and Set-Aside Lands.
Coordinator: Dr. J Fernandez, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid Dpto. Botanica agricola de T.S. / SPAIN


References