[rabbie]

Does anyone have any success growing Artichokes in Scotland. I live near Peebles and have been  trying for 2 years but have a poor survival rate for overwintering plants.   The first year I covered them with fleece but had no survivors. The second year I tried with two plant but only one survived.

Any suggestions ??

[gillie]

If it is any comfort, I can't keep  them over the winter here in the south of England.  I don't know why.  Friends with a worse climate and heavier soil manage it.

Gillie

[Chuffy]

I thought conventional wisdom was to cut them down to the base for winter and cover the stump with straw. Are you fleecing the whole plant?

[rabbie]

Yes the first year I cut them back and covered with fleece but they did'nt survive. The next year I did not cover and one of two survived.

[realfood]

I have several globes and a cardoon in Glasgow and overwinter them by covering them with a cloche. Doing this has prevented any losses for me. I think that it is the combination of both the cold and wet that kills them.