Globe artichokes for dummies

This year I have attempted to grow globe artichokes - I have 4 pretty substantial plants and following the textbook advice have removed all the heads as they appear.
I know I have to cut them back and cover the crowns but have 2 questions
1) how far do I cut them back and do I do this every year and
2) the rooted suckers that have appeared - do I cut these back or can I take them off in the hope of growing them into more plants.

very much a beginner to vegetable growing so any advice no matter how basic gratefully received.

Hi there, I've cut mine back to about 3 inches, and will cover with old compost and a tatty bit of fleece to stop it blowing away Some smaller plants are still in pots and have been moved into the greenhouse.
You don't usually remove any suckers untill the third year when you need to propagate, before that you want the plants to get bigger to give a good harvest for the next couple of years at least.

Good luck!

I grew a few seeds i got free with a gardening mag and have not given any special attention to the plants for the past 10 years and they continue to flourish like weeds, big thistles to be precise !
I only keep them for their looks not being a lover of them to eat but just cutting the old growth down and even tearing lumps of the root away if it gets too big has done them no harm.
New plants can be grown from the removed root and suckers quite easily.
In my limited experience they are tough plants when established.