[wysiwyg]

just been over to france and was so inspired by the rows of globes that i decided to by some plants.  I have planted them on into pots and intend to keep them in the green house for a couple of weeks until settled in -  So question is   What and where is best next?  This is one plant I havent ever tried before, but have always wanted to grow.

[celjaci]

Do you know if the plants were from seed or offsets? My understanding is that the best plants are from offsets although seed is easier.

To get the best results Globe Artichokes need that difficult ideal of a rich but well-drained soil. They don't want to be too dry in summer when producing but don't want to be too wet in winter.
They need to be planted at least 3 ft apart and make a wonderful edging for a plot!
Good luck with them.

[Kristen]

I've never looked after mine hat well I'm afraid! Still get a good crop.

Try to resist harvesting them in the first year.  I took the main flower bud [off each plant] in the first year, but cut off all the secondary flower buds to conserve the plant's strength.

[Babstreefern]

I took over a plot in November and the people who had it had them growing in various parts of the plot.  I've dug up most of them because basically, I can't stand them.  I was given a bit to try in a Pizza place, and for the first time, I forgot my manners, and spit it out on my plate.  I was horrified really, but they tasted so awful. 

I did leave three plants in at the back of my greenhouse - in between the g/house and the fence (out of the way and in shade) just for something to fill in the bed there.  There is a girl in the office where I work who love them and I said that if any grow, she can have them.  So she's looking forward to them.

[gobs]

just been over to france and was so inspired by the rows of globes that i decided to by some plants.  I have planted them on into pots and intend to keep them in the green house for a couple of weeks until settled in -  So question is   What and where is best next?  This is one plant I havent ever tried before, but have always wanted to grow.

Harden them off well, after the gh. Rather needless, easy plants, almost everybody has them around here in heavy clay. The only problem can be slugs with very tiny plants.

[wysiwyg]

presume that  they were from seed as they are only about 4" in size,  Thanks for the advise,  Hope they dont taste as bad as suggested, the french usually have a pretty good sense of whats good?

will resist harvesting if anything happens, but would think unlikely this year looking at them!

[gregmcalister]

I raised mine all from seed and there are definitely mixed results with some plants just not right at all. Last year I dug up the bad ones are replanted with offsets taken from the best plants and things are looking good. This is my third season growing them and my advice is to find a sunny sheltered spot, dig in lots and lots of compost and/or well rotted manure and they pretty much take care of themselves. I don't bother covering them in winter or anything like that. I just cut back the old dead material in the spring and they just do the rest. Just give them a good soil and they're happy.

[Kristen]

"would think unlikely this year looking at them!"

I bought plants from garden centre last year - no idea if they were from seed, or offsets, but they were very small. They produced primary flowers and about 4 or 5 secondary ones (which I cut off), so I think you may well get a few.

[Babstreefern]

I must admit they are well and truly hardy.  The ones that I kept came through this winter all through the hard frost.  They are growing well.

[celjaci]

I must admit they are well and truly hardy.  The ones that I kept came through this winter all through the hard frost.  They are growing well.

Not 100% hardy, we lost the lot in a bad winter around 1980.  Also depends on drainage - they don't like wet feet in winter

[luckie]

i have grown for first time this year aswell, started from seed at the beginning of the year, they have been out in the ground now for about 6 weeks. The only problem Ive had so far is slugs, they seem to love them.

[compostqueen]

I do nothing with mine cept tidy the manky leaves in spring. They fall over every year with the weight of the fruits but I never feed them.  I have to replant them when this happens but they never sulk

I've produced some new plants from seed of the variety Romanesco which are purple ones - just for a change.

The plants are tall so give them room.