[ted_woodley]

Anyone know of a supplier of artichoke cuttings (or whatever they're called !) - have heard this is an easier way to grow them than from seed. Thanks.

[James]

They're called offsets.  It's just like dividing any other perennial - lupins etc.  

Can't help you with where to get them, unless you know somebody with a plant?  

I've got 30 plants from seed at the bottom of the garden, started in July.

[ted_woodley]

There are some other plotholders who grow them, but they are never there when I am so I have not been able to ask them. The gardening books blithely say that you should get offsets from estabilished plants as if this is necessarily an easy thing to organise ! (Just like they say "put broken crocks" in the bottom of plant pots as if we all have heaps of broken terracotta pots hand). Think I will probably try them from seed.

[supersprout]

hey ted, they are a doddle to grow from seed so go for it
the reason people recommend offshoots is that seed isn't predictable - some plants will be more productive and vigorous, some may be more thistly ... and you don't know til the end of their second year. Then you start taking offshoots from the ones that are doing really well and in that way get yourself the most productive stock for your soil

They are tough as old boots and grow real fast - from seed started in August:

Transplanting



This week

[ted_woodley]

Thanks. I will go with seed then !