[simbamara]

Does anybody know how deep global/purple artichoke roots grow please ?

I am thinking about planting few plants in big pots.

Thanks






title edit for search purposes

[Kristen]

Don't know the answer to your question, but just wanted to check that you know that they are very low yielding?

You tend to get one main "flower", and then two or three smaller ones later on.  That's per "stem", initially you will probably only have one stem per plant, and you might get 2, perhaps 3, after a few more years.

So to get a meal for 4 you need 4 plants really, and there is no guarantee that the plants will come ripe at the same time.

And they are blinking wide - I don't suppose that matters in a container as you can shove them about a bit to make them happy, spacewise.

Also the good varieties are not entirely hardy,a nd being in a pot they will get cold from all sides (compared to being in the ground).

Not that I want to put you off or anything!!

[mumofstig]

they do make a big root system - I had to dig about 2 spits down to get one up to move it.

[simbamara]

Thank you .

[snow white]

I planted three plants earlier this year, but it was too many.  Each plant produced about seven heads. Now I love artichoke but I was having to eat two at a time!  Digging one up this year as I need the space for something else.

[arugula]

I planted three plants earlier this year, but it was too many. 

I have found our three plants extremely prolific too such that I wouldn't describe them in any way as low yielding and I find their spread no more than a kale plant, not particularly wide. They also survived extremely unexpected and harsh March snowstorms and freezing winds without cover! They are however a magnet for slugs and snails and as such, have permanent copper collars. As for size of root, I haven't had to move one, but as described mumofstig has.

[Kristen]

Each plant produced about seven heads.

That's fantastic! Wish mine were more prolific ... although they just came from garden centre and are probably seed grown Green Globe.

I now have some offsets, from France, of Vert de Laon, Camus de Bretagne and Maquereau (which I cannot find as an Artichoke variety!).  I'll let you know next year if they produce more spectacular crops.

With benefit of hindsight I wish I had grown some named varieties originally, rather than Heinz seed-raised plants which whilst OK are nothing special.

[mumofstig]

Kristen the ones that arugula and I grow were started from the same packet of Green Globe seeds, and they are generous with their heads 
So, I'm not sure that a different variety would necessarily be better, perhaps they don't like your soil 

[Kristen]

I'm sure "neglect" comes into play in my garden.  Good point about the soil, I'll check that.

My heavily biased opinion comes from Christo Lloyd's writing on the subject, but for the life of me I can't find his book ... I'll report back once it comes to light again

[simbamara]

As I am a beginner,please excuse if some of my questions seem to simple.
What is a ''copper collar''?I was told protecting them from slugs with sharp grit would work??
And 'what does it mean exactly when one says ''coming from an off shoot''?

My experience so far is as follows:

I have grown all my plants with seeds and most of the plants are growing very well in pots(upto a foot high now.

I plan to put some in large pots and others on my allotment plot.I cannot have enough of artichokes and I would also give to friends and family.

I do have many plants though !!

Any thoughts,advice would be welcome.

Thanks

[Kristen]

What is a ''copper collar''?I was told protecting them from slugs with sharp grit would work??

e.g. http://slugrings.co.uk/

Sharp grit has limited effect IME, chipped slate is better I think; lots of sharp edges!

And 'what does it mean exactly when one says ''coming from an off shoot''?

Artichoke plants (and others too) create new shoots alongside the parent plant. These are, in effect, baby new plants. They are still attached to the mother plant, initially, but with care they can be removed and planted up to create their own plant - in a position that you want They need to be left attached to the parent for long enough until they have developed a decent root system of their own.

[simbamara]

Thank you Kristen,all is much clearer now.

[simbamara]

By the way Kristen,  I would need to buy at least a dozen of these  copper rings.Any suggestion where best to buy them for ?
Thanks

[Kristen]

No idea if their price is competitive, but the link I posted earlier has an online shop too:

http://slugrings.co.uk/shop.html

[Kristen]

P.S.Make sure that no plant OUTSIDE the ring overhangs the plant WITHIN the ring ... otherwise the slugs will parachute in!