Artichokes - first year...

I think the usual advice is cut them off while they are small just so the plant can strengthen. Like not picking rhubarb in the first year?

If they are big enough to eat, then you didn't cut them off early enough 
If they are still quite small there may not be anything worth eating under the choke. I've never heard of them tasting bad..... there's is only one way to find out 

Funny you should say that Mike - I was walking round the plots having a nosey and noticed odd spots of it, here and there. I wondered if it was perhaps not so virulent this year - or perhaps just waiting for some rain before it strikes hard 

I came home and made a tent affair from canes and polysheeting to protect the Kibitz toms in the garden, cos they are laden with toms, wouldn't want to lose them all to the first drop of rain 
Fingers crossed for us all now.