Artichokes
The artichoke comes from Northeast Africa and seems to have been known by the Greeks and Romans. During the Middle Ages was introduced in Italy and Spain, seems to have improved the cultivation of thistle, more bitter, and thus the artichoke was obtained.
Description
The artichoke reaches from 1.4 to 2 meters in height. It comes back from the stalk every year, after winter, if the cold did not freeze it. It throws a rosette of whole leaves and deep segmented although less divided than those of the thistle and with few or no thorns.
Varieties: In Spain is obtained mainly the White of Tudela, Callosinas, Madrileñas, and the variety Monquelina although this last one is practically disappeared.
Seasonality: Between October and April is usually harvested.
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Courgette
It is a vegetable of elongated form, firm and we can find it of several colours (intense green, very light green or yellow).
Varieties: We can classify courgettes depending on the shape of the plant. The most popular on the market are: Consul, dark green, somewhat curved; Elite, white-green, short shorts; Axarquia, with elongated fruits of very dark green colour; Cora, variety specially adapted to the heat, with bright green colour.
Seasonality: Although we can find them throughout the year in the market, the best time for consumption is from November to August.
Sweet Potato
Also known as Batata, chaco or sweet potato. Brownish on the outside and yellowish or white on the inside, about twelve centimetres long, five in diameter; Has some resemblance to the potato, although it is more irregularly shaped, elongated and pointed at the ends and its taste is surprisingly very sweet.
Varieties: There are many varieties depending on the colour of the skin and the meat. So we can find
the following: Californian, red meat, Jasper, red meat, Violet, smooth skin violet and pink meat, Georgia, orange flesh, Rosa de Malaga, Amarilla de Malaga, Lisa de Tucumán, etc.
Seasonality: Normally harvested during the months of October and November
Vine Tomato
Medium size berry with rounded shape, inserted in a vine that is allowed to mature in the branch of the tomato. Thin living red skin very attractive. Good taste and texture, bittersweet, refreshing and aromatic.
Varieties: The tomato on the vine is not strictly a variety but a way of presentation that retains its qualities better. Among the commercial varieties that can be presented on the vine: Yellow Tomato vine, Yellow Cherry Tomato vine, Plum Cherry Tomato vine, Cherry Tomato vine, Orange Tomato vine, Plum Vine Tomato.
Seasonality: Modern techniques of cultivation and experimentation with mixture of varieties, have made it possible to have fresh tomatoes throughout the year, although it is from June to October that we find the best quality.
Aubergine
It is a fruit in the form of berry of 5 to 30 cm in length, of spherical elongated shape, with a smooth and bright skin and colours that go from the purple to the white.
Varieties: Varieties of aubergine are classified according to the shape of the fruit. Thus they are the ones of long fruit (Long black, Long dwelling, Violet of Barbentane, Croisette), Round fruit (Violet of New York, Of Almagro) and Fruit Ovoideo (Jaspeada de Gandía, Mission Bell, Black beauty, etc.)
Seasonality: The aubergine harvest is limited to the months between October and April, and can be
extended from September to May.
