Hello All!

Part of dinner tonight is artichoke with a lemon dipping sauce. I have
just finished cutting off the prickles and have been bitten back twice.
I have read that a defanged artichoke has been developed but have never
seen one. Has anyone come across them?

--


James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

On Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:02:41 GMT, "James Silverton"
> wrote:

>Hello All!
>
>Part of dinner tonight is artichoke with a lemon dipping sauce. I have
>just finished cutting off the prickles and have been bitten back twice.
>I have read that a defanged artichoke has been developed but have never
>seen one. Has anyone come across them?

Everyone we buy is defanged...with kitchen sissors. Hold the choke in
the palm of your hand and just snip. Not a problem. Some kitchen
procedures are minimal and necessary.

I suspect you want us to remove the skin from your chicken too?
Oh...that's right, skinless chicken breasts at 5.59 a pound vs. whole
chickens at 99 cents a pound.

James Silverton wrote:
>
> Hello All!
>
> Part of dinner tonight is artichoke with a lemon dipping sauce. I have
> just finished cutting off the prickles and have been bitten back twice.
> I have read that a defanged artichoke has been developed but have never
> seen one. Has anyone come across them?
>


That would be pointless............

On Sep 16, 5:06*pm, Arri London > wrote:
>
> That would be pointless............
Sharp one, eh?
I picked the 'chokes I grew once they got just past softball size, and
the leaf tips had begun to split, but none of those nasty thorns had
come about yet. Any of the ones I've bought at a local Farmers Market
have split into thorns either. Perhaps the 'chokes we may buy at the
common grocer's have been left to the drying sun too long before
shipping?

.....Picky

On Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:02:41 GMT, "James Silverton"
> wrote:

>Hello All!
>
>Part of dinner tonight is artichoke with a lemon dipping sauce. I have
>just finished cutting off the prickles and have been bitten back twice.
>I have read that a defanged artichoke has been developed but have never
>seen one. Has anyone come across them?

I bought them a couple of times. They lost flavor too. Nevermore.
I'll stick with the "real thing".


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

In article >, Arri London >
wrote:

> James Silverton wrote:
> >
> > Hello All!
> >
> > Part of dinner tonight is artichoke with a lemon dipping sauce. I have
> > just finished cutting off the prickles and have been bitten back twice.
> > I have read that a defanged artichoke has been developed but have never
> > seen one. Has anyone come across them?
> >
>
>
> That would be pointless............

Boo!
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

PickyJaz wrote:
>
> On Sep 16, 5:06 pm, Arri London > wrote:
> >
> > That would be pointless............


> Sharp one, eh?

Have the occasional moment of actually having a sense of humour...


> I picked the 'chokes I grew once they got just past softball size, and
> the leaf tips had begun to split, but none of those nasty thorns had
> come about yet. Any of the ones I've bought at a local Farmers Market
> have split into thorns either. Perhaps the 'chokes we may buy at the
> common grocer's have been left to the drying sun too long before
> shipping?

Dunno. Sometimes the artichokes in the markets locally look very nice,
closed and the spiky bits aren't all that spiky. Other times they are
really too old and should have been harvested/shipped a lot sooner.

Never got many buds off my lone artichoke plant and they didn't get
larger than a table tennis ball Plant died off the second year and
have never tried again.
>
> ....Picky

Omelet wrote:
>
> In article >, Arri London >
> wrote:
>
> > James Silverton wrote:
> > >
> > > Hello All!
> > >
> > > Part of dinner tonight is artichoke with a lemon dipping sauce. I have
> > > just finished cutting off the prickles and have been bitten back twice.
> > > I have read that a defanged artichoke has been developed but have never
> > > seen one. Has anyone come across them?
> > >
> >
> >
> > That would be pointless............
>
> Boo!
> --


:P

On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:11:34 -0600, Arri London >
wrote:

>Never got many buds off my lone artichoke plant and they didn't get
>larger than a table tennis ball Plant died off the second year and
>have never tried again.

I think they do better on foggy coastlines, Ari.

sf
where the artichokes grow




--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

sf wrote:

> On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:11:34 -0600, Arri London >
> wrote:
>
>>Never got many buds off my lone artichoke plant and they didn't get
>>larger than a table tennis ball Plant died off the second year and
>>have never tried again.
>
> I think they do better on foggy coastlines, Ari.
>
> sf
> where the artichokes grow

Home, home on the coast
Where sf and the artichokes play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are oft foggy all day


--
Blinky
Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project: http://improve-usenet.org
Need a new news feed? http://blinkynet.net/comp/newfeed.html

said...

> On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:11:34 -0600, Arri London >
> wrote:
>
>>Never got many buds off my lone artichoke plant and they didn't get
>>larger than a table tennis ball Plant died off the second year and
>>have never tried again.
>
> I think they do better on foggy coastlines, Ari.
>
> sf
> where the artichokes grow
>
>


sf,

Have you been to the Artichoke Festival in Castroville? I've been meaning
to attend for the longest time. Next year will be their 50th Annual.

Best,

Andy

sf wrote:
>
> On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:11:34 -0600, Arri London >
> wrote:
>
> >Never got many buds off my lone artichoke plant and they didn't get
> >larger than a table tennis ball Plant died off the second year and
> >have never tried again.
>
> I think they do better on foggy coastlines, Ari.
>
> sf
> where the artichokes grow
>
>
>

LOL no doubt, but such things *are* on sale around here.
Grew our own sweetcorn one year; all baby corn and no large ears.
Potatoes turned out the size of large marbles...Squashes and beans do
well here, as they have been grown here for centuries.
Soil is quite shallow and poor, despite years of amendments. Water (and
lack thereof) of course is an issue.

On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:58:37 -0600, Arri London >
wrote:

>Soil is quite shallow and poor, despite years of amendments. Water (and
>lack thereof) of course is an issue.

AHA! Wizard hat on.... I sense a new wine grape growing region!


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:45:26 -0700, sf wrote:

>On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:58:37 -0600, Arri London >
>wrote:
>
>>Soil is quite shallow and poor, despite years of amendments. Water (and
>>lack thereof) of course is an issue.
>
>AHA! Wizard hat on.... I sense a new wine grape growing region!

If you are talking about New Mexico, it is actually the oldest wine
grape growing region in the whole country. Vineyards have been here
for hundreds of years..and New Mexico produces some award winning
wines, especially champagne.

http://www.vivanewmexico.com/wines.html

Christine

In article >, Arri London >
wrote:

> sf wrote:
> >
> > On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:11:34 -0600, Arri London >
> > wrote:
> >
> > >Never got many buds off my lone artichoke plant and they didn't get
> > >larger than a table tennis ball Plant died off the second year and
> > >have never tried again.
> >
> > I think they do better on foggy coastlines, Ari.
> >
> > sf
> > where the artichokes grow
> >
> >
> >
>
> LOL no doubt, but such things *are* on sale around here.
> Grew our own sweetcorn one year; all baby corn and no large ears.
> Potatoes turned out the size of large marbles...Squashes and beans do
> well here, as they have been grown here for centuries.
> Soil is quite shallow and poor, despite years of amendments. Water (and
> lack thereof) of course is an issue.

Two words: Raised Beds.
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

sf wrote:
>
> On Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:58:37 -0600, Arri London >
> wrote:
>
> >Soil is quite shallow and poor, despite years of amendments. Water (and
> >lack thereof) of course is an issue.
>
> AHA! Wizard hat on.... I sense a new wine grape growing region!
>


It is indeed. Gruet wines are produced locally. My own grapevine is a
Golden Muscat which does produce despite my neglect during the past 12
months.

Omelet wrote:
>
> In article >, Arri London >
> wrote:
>
> > sf wrote:
> > >
> > > On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:11:34 -0600, Arri London >
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > >Never got many buds off my lone artichoke plant and they didn't get
> > > >larger than a table tennis ball Plant died off the second year and
> > > >have never tried again.
> > >
> > > I think they do better on foggy coastlines, Ari.
> > >
> > > sf
> > > where the artichokes grow
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > LOL no doubt, but such things *are* on sale around here.
> > Grew our own sweetcorn one year; all baby corn and no large ears.
> > Potatoes turned out the size of large marbles...Squashes and beans do
> > well here, as they have been grown here for centuries.
> > Soil is quite shallow and poor, despite years of amendments. Water (and
> > lack thereof) of course is an issue.
>
> Two words: Raised Beds.
> --

We have one and I practise dry land 'farming' such as it is LOL. Just
didn't do anything last year and very little this year. Actually things
do better here in trenches to catch whatever rain does fall.

In article >, Arri London >
wrote:

> We have one and I practise dry land 'farming' such as it is LOL. Just
> didn't do anything last year and very little this year. Actually things
> do better here in trenches to catch whatever rain does fall.

Well, to really conserve water, there is always container growing...
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

Omelet wrote:
>
> In article >, Arri London >
> wrote:
>
> > We have one and I practise dry land 'farming' such as it is LOL. Just
> > didn't do anything last year and very little this year. Actually things
> > do better here in trenches to catch whatever rain does fall.
>
> Well, to really conserve water, there is always container growing...
> --
> Peace! Om
>


We do that too, especially for the herbs. Except for the rosemary, which
gets too big!

On Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:28:44 -0600, Arri London >
wrote:

>
>
>Omelet wrote:
>>
>> In article >, Arri London >
>> wrote:
>>
>> > We have one and I practise dry land 'farming' such as it is LOL. Just
>> > didn't do anything last year and very little this year. Actually things
>> > do better here in trenches to catch whatever rain does fall.
>>
>> Well, to really conserve water, there is always container growing...
>> --
>> Peace! Om
>>
>
>
>We do that too, especially for the herbs. Except for the rosemary, which
>gets too big!

Your rosemary needs a "haircut" ari. Not kidding, prune it. You'll
be surprised by how well it responds.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

In article >, Arri London >
wrote:

> Omelet wrote:
> >
> > In article >, Arri London >
> > wrote:
> >
> > > We have one and I practise dry land 'farming' such as it is LOL. Just
> > > didn't do anything last year and very little this year. Actually things
> > > do better here in trenches to catch whatever rain does fall.
> >
> > Well, to really conserve water, there is always container growing...
>
> We do that too, especially for the herbs. Except for the rosemary, which
> gets too big!

My herb garden is next to the house to keep it warm.
I've been able to keep Rosemary, Mexican Oregano, Thyme, Sage and
Dittany of Crete for several years now with very little watering. All
of those are drought resistant.

Only Basil gets grown in pots. :-)

I've only played with dill weed once. It's too inexpensive at the asian
market, or bulk dried. Parsely is too, altho' I do want to plant more
Fennel. Not only is it an expensive veggie, the baby swallowtail
butterflies like it as much as Parsely and Dill. Allowing them to eat
the leaves does not significantly hurt the plant. I'm just glad I've
learned to recognize them.

I do rather enjoy butterflies. <g> (Flying Flowers!)

Ginger root is better off in pots too. It appreciates more water. The
city water and drainage bill can get to be rather high if I don't watch
it. :-(
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

In article >, sf wrote:

> On Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:28:44 -0600, Arri London >
> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >Omelet wrote:
> >>
> >> In article >, Arri London >
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> > We have one and I practise dry land 'farming' such as it is LOL. Just
> >> > didn't do anything last year and very little this year. Actually things
> >> > do better here in trenches to catch whatever rain does fall.
> >>
> >> Well, to really conserve water, there is always container growing...
> >> --
> >> Peace! Om
> >>
> >
> >
> >We do that too, especially for the herbs. Except for the rosemary, which
> >gets too big!
>
> Your rosemary needs a "haircut" ari. Not kidding, prune it. You'll
> be surprised by how well it responds.

I'll have to try that. Mine looks like hell right now after the May 2007
high rainfall...

Thanks.
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

sf wrote:
>
> On Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:28:44 -0600, Arri London >
> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >Omelet wrote:
> >>
> >> In article >, Arri London >
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> > We have one and I practise dry land 'farming' such as it is LOL. Just
> >> > didn't do anything last year and very little this year. Actually things
> >> > do better here in trenches to catch whatever rain does fall.
> >>
> >> Well, to really conserve water, there is always container growing...
> >> --
> >> Peace! Om
> >>
> >
> >
> >We do that too, especially for the herbs. Except for the rosemary, which
> >gets too big!
>
> Your rosemary needs a "haircut" ari. Not kidding, prune it. You'll
> be surprised by how well it responds.
>
>

It gets pruned every year; where do you think the stuff I ship all over
the US comes from This is an ideal climate for it and it really does
get weedlike. It's only three years old...

Omelet wrote:
>
> In article >, Arri London >
> wrote:
>
> > Omelet wrote:
> > >
> > > In article >, Arri London >
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > We have one and I practise dry land 'farming' such as it is LOL. Just
> > > > didn't do anything last year and very little this year. Actually things
> > > > do better here in trenches to catch whatever rain does fall.
> > >
> > > Well, to really conserve water, there is always container growing...
> >
> > We do that too, especially for the herbs. Except for the rosemary, which
> > gets too big!
>
> My herb garden is next to the house to keep it warm.
> I've been able to keep Rosemary, Mexican Oregano, Thyme, Sage and
> Dittany of Crete for several years now with very little watering. All
> of those are drought resistant.
>
> Only Basil gets grown in pots. :-)

Our basil has always done well in the raised bed, but didn't plant any
this year.
>
> I've only played with dill weed once. It's too inexpensive at the asian
> market, or bulk dried. Parsely is too, altho' I do want to plant more
> Fennel. Not only is it an expensive veggie, the baby swallowtail
> butterflies like it as much as Parsely and Dill. Allowing them to eat
> the leaves does not significantly hurt the plant. I'm just glad I've
> learned to recognize them.

Was growing parsley and dill etc, but while I was ill my mother pulled
it all up without looking to see what it was Parsley is slow growing,
so several plants are needed to produce any. The herbs were being grown
because I want organic but don't want to pay the premium.Will try again
next year...
>
> I do rather enjoy butterflies. <g> (Flying Flowers!)

We get yellow/black swallowtails here. Only had one tomato hornworm this
year and it looked as though a wasp had got to it. Fell off the plant
and died anyway.
>
> Ginger root is better off in pots too. It appreciates more water. The
> city water and drainage bill can get to be rather high if I don't watch
> it. :-(
> --
> Peace! Om

Most herbs are Mediterranean and don't require much water. That's why
they grow well here with little work on my part.

Have grown ginger in pots but not recently. Could try again; can't
always get young ginger around here when it's wanted.

On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:26:13 -0600, Arri London >
wrote:

>
>
>sf wrote:
>>
>> On Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:28:44 -0600, Arri London >
>> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >
>> >Omelet wrote:
>> >>
>> >> In article >, Arri London >
>> >> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > We have one and I practise dry land 'farming' such as it is LOL. Just
>> >> > didn't do anything last year and very little this year. Actually things
>> >> > do better here in trenches to catch whatever rain does fall.
>> >>
>> >> Well, to really conserve water, there is always container growing...
>> >> --
>> >> Peace! Om
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> >We do that too, especially for the herbs. Except for the rosemary, which
>> >gets too big!
>>
>> Your rosemary needs a "haircut" ari. Not kidding, prune it. You'll
>> be surprised by how well it responds.
>>
>>
>
>It gets pruned every year; where do you think the stuff I ship all over
>the US comes from This is an ideal climate for it and it really does
>get weedlike. It's only three years old...

My climate is similar Arri. Most people don't know they can whack it
and it will come back.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

In article >, Arri London >
wrote:

> Most herbs are Mediterranean and don't require much water. That's why
> they grow well here with little work on my part.

Except for basil! At least for me. I hardly ever water what I have in
dirt at the moment and they are a few years old. Thyme, Sage, Mexican
Oregano, Dittany of Crete and Rosemary.

>
> Have grown ginger in pots but not recently. Could try again; can't
> always get young ginger around here when it's wanted.

I put some in the ground last year when we had lots of rain and it did
well. Not so good this year. It's been too dry.

It did best for me in a clay pot last time I tried it.
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

In article >, sf wrote:

> My climate is similar Arri. Most people don't know they can whack it
> and it will come back.

I've not been able to keep artichoke alive.
I've tried 3 times. <sigh>

Chocolate mint either...
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

On Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:32:08 -0500, Omelet >
wrote:

>In article >, sf wrote:
>
>> My climate is similar Arri. Most people don't know they can whack it
>> and it will come back.
>
>I've not been able to keep artichoke alive.
>I've tried 3 times. <sigh>

Me either and I live in an ideal climate for it.
>
>Chocolate mint either...

Mint needs *lots* of water. Plant it near a leaky well, put a shade
over it and you're in business.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

In article >, sf wrote:

> On Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:32:08 -0500, Omelet >
> wrote:
>
> >In article >, sf wrote:
> >
> >> My climate is similar Arri. Most people don't know they can whack it
> >> and it will come back.
> >
> >I've not been able to keep artichoke alive.
> >I've tried 3 times. <sigh>
>
> Me either and I live in an ideal climate for it.
> >
> >Chocolate mint either...
>
> Mint needs *lots* of water. Plant it near a leaky well, put a shade
> over it and you're in business.

Oh other mints do just fine! I've had them take over. Lemon mint,
Spearmint and Catmint. <g>

It's just Chocolate mint that won't do well for me. :-(
--
Peace! Om

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed." --Mark Twain

sf wrote:
>
> On Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:32:08 -0500, Omelet >
> wrote:
>
> >In article >, sf wrote:
> >
> >> My climate is similar Arri. Most people don't know they can whack it
> >> and it will come back.
> >
> >I've not been able to keep artichoke alive.
> >I've tried 3 times. <sigh>
>
> Me either and I live in an ideal climate for it.
> >
> >Chocolate mint either...
>
> Mint needs *lots* of water. Plant it near a leaky well, put a shade
> over it and you're in business.
>

Mint grows like weeds here and will easily take over a garden. It
doesn't really need much water. Can't say for chocolate mint
though...'weird' plants often need more water than the basic sorts.