I know it's early. Really early as my wife's tomatoes from seed-saving are now a couple inches tall and indoors.

But, we have already eaten two really nice artichokes off of our outdoor plant. There are at least two more 'chokes on the way. Thses are the standard softball-sized 'chokes.

I also started some seeds of an Italian variety. Looks like there are a half-dozen flowers coming but they are golfball size and looks as if the flower will be blood red. How do you prepare these?