Globe artichokes

[Mrs Ava]

I have a neat row of these on the allotment, grown from seed last spring and planted out last summer.  Most are getting huge now.  Can I expect a crop from them or should I remove any flowers to encourage the plants to put their energy into roots and shoots??

[Mrs Ava]

[wardy]

I grew mine from seed about 5 years ago and it's still going strong.  I just let it do what it wanted and I get lots of globes from it.  I grow it because I like the look of the plant rather than the taste which I'm not bothered about.  I prefer the melted butter  :)

[Mrs Ava]

I love them, but to look at and to munch, and as I am more or less alone in my passion for them, I am sure many buds will open and provide stunning flowers.  Just want to treat them right....think I am going to be unindated with them as I have at least 15 in the row, plus another 6 home here in pots, but they are destined for positioning by the pond, not for eating.

[sandersj89]

I would be happy to let the flowers for this year. They have had a year to bulk up.

Also as you have so many you will only need a couple from each plant.

I used to grow them but the long wet winter a few years back saw my 3 plants of on my heavy soil. Must grow some again as I do like them. Some on my allotment site has 2 rows of them and he will have a spare root or two I hope!

Jerry

[wardy]

They are beautiful plants and make a real statement in the garden.  The thistle like flower is gorgeous and insects love it.  It looks even better when in flower.  I like to cut some of the globes and soak em in salt water as they are full of pollen beetles etc (mine are as I don't spray)  The insects sort of just float out.  Then I put them in a pretty bowl in my kitchen.  I quite like the artichoke heart but not the leaves.

Mine comes up each year and maybe some of the lower leaves are a bit tatty so I just cut them off to neaten it up.  I've never fed it before and it's still thriving.

[derbex]

You should be ok to take heads this year EJ, I grew them as an annual last year (as they couldn't go where I wanted them to go) and got loads from 6 plants. I did see someone recommend this method as a good way to grow them anyway, rather than the wait a year take offsets &c. Presumeably you pinched the flowers out when really small last year?

I'm going to crop mine in their first season ans sow seeds next Feb. just in case, don't want to be without this summer.

Jeremy.

[Mrs Ava]

They didn't produce flowers last year, just got huge!  Oh well, nothing ventured nothing gained, and if noone likes them, then I can oik out the smaller ones and just keep a couple of real strong ones to provide me with buds.  How many heads do you get...roughly...from one strong plant?

[wardy]

You may get more EJ as the plant matures.  I got probably about 8.  I don't do anything to do apart from remove any old leaves at the base which make it look unattractive  :)  It faces south if that's any help.  I've never fed it, manured or mulched it.  I probably would do if I was after lots of chokes from it but I'm not keen on the taste so I don't mind if I don't get many.  Usually do though.  :)