Carcofiofore is a first-generation artichoke hybrid (Cynara cardunculus L.) distinguished by high-quality flower heads and resilience to unfavorable growing conditions. The plant reaches a height of about 1.5 meters, features purple buds with green stripes, and has a maturation period of approximately 210 days. Successful growth of Carcofiofore requires a long vegetative period and warm-moist soils; therefore, it is best grown in open ground in the central region or in the south, where temperatures remain above +15 °C. The plant bears fruit from the second year, and the harvest is collected as the flower heads mature – when the bracts begin to bend.
Care for Carcofiofore includes moderate watering and fertilization with mineral fertilizers. It is important to loosen the soil and remove weeds to prevent competition for nutrients. The plant is drought-resistant, but may be susceptible to diseases such as black rot, as well as pests – aphids and slugs. To combat these issues, preventive measures are applied: seed disinfection, removal of plant residues, application of insecticides and soap-copper solutions.
Carcofiofore seeds are best soaked in warm water or a growth stimulant before sowing. Seedlings are planted after seed germination at temperatures up to +25 °C, using a mixture of peat, sand, and agroperlite (1:0.2:0.2). The distance between plants is 10–20 cm, and the planting depth is 2 cm. After the appearance of two true leaves, the seedlings can be transplanted into a bed or greenhouse.
Carcofiofore harvest is stored at temperatures from +2 to +12 °C for 25 days and in a refrigerator (0–1 °C) for up to 3 months. This makes it a convenient product for winter storage and use in cuisine, where it is valued for its unusual taste and rich composition of vitamins, minerals, and organic acids. Thanks to these properties, Carcofiofore becomes popular as a therapeutic-dietary product, promoting improved metabolic processes and cleansing the body of toxins.
