[pdblake]

I'm about to put in my artichokes (off in a minute). I intend to use the foliage for composting, the roots for what they were intended for. but not sure what to do with the flowers. I'm going to cut some if they're any good, but do they seed like sunflowers so I can let some go for the chooks?

[willp]

The flowers are very attractive, and make great cut flowers, later in the year.

I`ve never known mine set seed - I ve an idea that they like it a bit warmer than we generally get in the UK.

The stems are very tough (like sunflowers in fact ). You may want to bash them up or shred them before composting.

Will

[Kleftiwallah]

The flowers are very small by comparison to Sunflowers.  The best use of the stalks in late autumn is as a lattice upon which to build a new compost heap and so stop the compost material going soggy/smelly.

Cheers,   Tony.

[pdblake]

That sounds like a good idea, keep it nice and airy

I'll just use the flowers for cutting then.

They're all in now anyway, I put most in up at the allotment but saved a few for home just so we can have a few flowers here too.

[Hobnails]

As said by Willp earlier in the thread the flowers make great cut flowers at the back end of the year. My wife swears by them. Out here the my neighbours cut and feed the haulms to their rabbits. They cut them out during the growing season before they are finished growing right up until they go brown.
As an afterthought, they swear by eating celery when they eat the 'chokes to control the wind problem.

[BabbyAnn]

I shred my stems and use them as mulch.  As for flowers, I just leave them and it gives the plot a bit of colour.