Brand new mummy to nine Cardoons - any tips?

[ina]

Can you grow them imdoors in tubs?

You can grow them in poly tunnels - at least in Scotland.

[Cornelian]

No, they can't be grown indoors - they are very definitely not an indoors plant, and being indoors doesn't protect them from The Law. I'll compost them down this weekend. *gulp*

[digiveg]

Can't you just cut off the flowers before the seeds form? It seems a pity to waste the whole plant when it's not difficult to prevent it becoming a problem. The flowers are beautiful, too.

Also, cutting off the flowers means that you get to blanch the stems AND eat them...

[Cornelian]

The cardoons are SO ILLEGAL they are going to have to go - this weekend, I think, as I will be starting a new compost heap.

Quarantine now know I have them, I'm afraid standing there and saying I promise not to let them go to seed isn't gong to save me from an enormous fine and environmental cleanup bill.

Australia has incredibly strict quarantine laws, and they are very vigilant .

[ina]

Australia has incredibly strict quarantine laws, and they are very vigilant .

I remember when I arrived in Sydney, 24 years ago or so , on an agricultural exchange programme - the officials at the airport almost had a fit when they realised that half the plane was full of farmers... But we had been warned, and most of us had not brought any work clothes, wellies etc with us! And definitely no fruit, seeds or suchlike.

[Cornelian]

Ina, you should have tried coming into Australia during the foot and mouth outbreak! They were packing people back onto planes and sending them home in droves. I was travelling in the US at that time, and on re-entry I had to tell the quarantine man everywhere I had been, give him full account of my actions etc, before they'd let me through, and of our plane load I was one of only 3 people allowed straight out without going first into a big hanger for some unknown, horrid disinfecting programme.

When I moved to Tasmania 2 years ago I was not allowed to bring any of my gardening equipment or tools with me.

[ina]

Yes, the Australians are known to be strict over biosecurity... Quite right, too.

During foot and mouth I was doing a postgrad course at an agricultural college, and I went for a workplacement, just at the beginning of the outbreak. Had to stay in quarantine for a week on return to college, although I hadn't set foot on a farm while I was away! Just having been near an affected area was enough to keep me out. It was an awful time; I still remember the smell of disinfectant all over the countryside. Never got near one of the big fires - that must have been horrific.

[Millymollymandy]

I remember arriving in New Zealand from Fiji and my brother made me LIE on the immigration form and say we hadn't been on a farm. Then they went through my suitcase only time that has ever happened to me!

My dad sent home grown chillies over with us for his brother in Auckland and they had to go through some sort of process before they could be picked up several days later at the airport. I dread to think what the chillies were coated in.

Also, on travelling with a car around several states in the US, we were amazed on practically deserted roads crossing state borders to be stopped by the police and having to throw away fruit and flowers that we had in the car!!! We'd just got married but I didn't tell them that my wedding posy was packed away in a bag, they weren't having that!

[Cornelian]

Also, on travelling with a car around several states in the US, we were amazed on practically deserted roads crossing state borders to be stopped by the police and having to throw away fruit and flowers that we had in the car!!!

That happens in Australia, too - very strict laws between states. If you'd been caught with your wedding posy you'd still be doing time.