Globe artichokes

[Kristen]

I think they must be among my very favouritest plants to grow from seed. I loved the strong glossy leaved seedlings.

I have Cardoons (same family as G.A.) in my ornamental borders for "dramatic effect" A doddle to grow from seed, so added some structure very cheaply.

I think GA plants only last a few years so I suppose I might have to start again soon.

Worth taking "offsets" from any particular plants that you have that perform well, and thus persisting those over the years, in preference to reverting to seed - which will take an extra year to get to mature size, and may give variable offspring.

[Kristen]

Found a photo

Early in the season (bottom right of photo):



Later on when they are in flower - bit harder to see with all the other stuff that is "up" by then:

[Noosner]

I have Cardoons (same family as G.A.) in my ornamental borders for "dramatic effect" A doddle to grow from seed, so added some structure very cheaply.



Worth taking "offsets" from any particular plants that you have that perform well, and thus persisting those over the years, in preference to reverting to seed - which will take an extra year to get to mature size, and may give variable offspring.

Thanks for the advice, Kristen. Are offsets taken by dividing the root?

[Kristen]

Are offsets taken by dividing the root?

The plant sends up a new "shoot" alongside the main stem. They can be, carefully, separated (without digging up the parent) and potted up and grown on for a bit before then planting out.

[Noosner]

The plant sends up a new "shoot" alongside the main stem. They can be, carefully, separated (without digging up the parent) and potted up and grown on for a bit before then planting out.

Thanks, K - will try this out.

[MrsCordial]

What a beautiful garden Kristen. My GA seedlings are doing really well. When can I plant them out? Are they another that don't like to dip below 10 degrees?

[Kristen]

My GA seedlings are doing really well. When can I plant them out? Are they another that don't like to dip below 10 degrees?

I suspect they will be fine, as fairly hardy. However, I prefer to mollycoddle seedlings a bit, even if hardy, as they obviously aren't as robust as their mature scribblings

I prick out my seedlings - usually to 1" modules and then when they are a bit more substantial pot on to 9cm pots and then once they have filled those I plant them out. Depends on when they were sown, and how fast they grow, but generally I am planting things out in May, or early June.

[gillyg76]

I grew Globe Artichokes from seed, and they were fine. Until I read about better French varieties ... took me ages to find a source (got them from France in the end) and they are noticeably better ... but ... I find them a bit of a pig to grow. Sufficiently tender that I over winter Offsets under cover in case of a hard winter ...

Be prepared to rogue-out any of your seed raised ones if the plants do not produce nice heads - e.g. if they are more thistle-like - as seed-raised will produce some variable offspring.

Might be worth looking out for some, just in case you stumble on any. The two that I have are Gros Vert de Laon and Camus de Bretagne

Can you remember which website you got the seeds for camus de Bretagne? I have been looking in loads of places and it just seems really hard to find. Thanks.

[Feral007]

Great - at least I've found a purpose for my globe artichokes. The first ones came thru when we had the fires here, so I hacked them off and took them with us, the pets, the photos; but didn't find any time to do anything with them.
In late autumn we had one single choke on an enormous plant, and I'm thinking that it had better taste fantastic for all the space it's architectural foliage takes up....and I didn't find it very exciting to eat.
If the bees love it them I'll let some of them flower. There are 2 or 3 that have gone past the tender stage, and a few more coming on. Might try again - although I do like a plant that you can just bung in a pan/dish and let it cook with the rest of the dish - never have time for growing if I'm always in the kitchen

I might try taking some offsets. I may decide to put some out the back garden once I get some electric netting to keep the chooks at bay. There would be room out there if they can take the climate.
And at the least, if I decide not to grow them on, I can use them as swap currency with the other organic growers in the area

And thanks for those JA recipe's as I've bought some tubers from the fruit markets and bunged them in the ground under chicken wire to save them from the chickens. Hoping they will come up this spring.