Awesome ! If the plants didn't get so darned big I'd consider trying to grow a couple in my hoop house next year... on the other hand, I don't even know if I LIKE artichokes, I'm pretty sure I've never eaten one.

I ended up harvesting 4 and cooked them for dinner last night. Artichokes dipped in lemon/garlic butter and wine was my dinner last night. They were awesome. I should have more to eat in a couple days.

I picked 5 and am having them for dinner with wine. Here's an update on how they look.


Today's harvest.

I know there's not a lot of interest in this tread, but I keep updating it more as a log for me to remember what's happening.

I'm interested....I've tried artichokes a few times with much less success than you've had. But I'm getting inspired to try again next year. Your photos are gorgeous--my mouth is watering!

I think you should try them again, Linda. It seems they like the cloudy, wet weather we've had all spring. They're doing great this year. I dug a trench with a trencher that fits onto my tiller, and filled it with composted chicken manure, then covered it up and mounded it. They are really heavy feeders, and this seems to have given them what they need. I also stared them much earlier then last time. And OMG do they taste good. I'm guessing they have a long tap root system, and that they will do better in the ground then in a container. Not sure though. For some reason the rabbits left them alone this year, maybe because they were more mature when I set them out. I have to let some bloom and try to recover some seeds. I may have to fence myself out of them to make that happen though.

I'm interested in the thread, too... I'm really amazed at how successful you've been in growing them, Tom!

Thanks for that info, Tom. I think part of my problem was not heavy-enough feeding. Still don't have a plan to keep the rabbits from eating them, though.

I don't know why the rabbits left them alone this year, they sure are abundant here, but like I said, they were more mature when I set them out, maybe they like them when they are younger.

Tom, the Imperial Star is most likely a hybrid. Territorial Seed has it in their catalog with "Plant Variety Protected" in the description. I want to try them. We really like artichokes, but not the supermarket prices.

Thanks, then most likely they wouldn't come true from saved seeds. Guess I'll just have to buy more seeds next year.

I'm seeing the 3rd generation of little ones coming now. They're growing like crazy.

Tom, when did you start them, give them the artificial winter, and set them out? When is your last usual frost date?

I started them in late January (relying on memory here). They went through the vermalization process starting in March, and I put them in the ground in Mid May. Our last usual frost is around Mid May most years.

I disagree about Imperial Star being a hybrid -- I suspected it wasn't because Johnny's Seeds doesn't indicate "F1," which they always do for the hybrids they sell, and I found this on the Fedco Seeds site, which specifically says it's open pollinated http://www.fedcoseeds.com/seed...

Save those seeds, Tom !

Interesting. I guess they can be allowed to get quite cold down to 25 degrees. This colder spring/summer must be the reason they are doing so well.

Wow, I wouldn't have thought they would tolerate 25 degrees! They should keep going well into the fall, then, I would think ? You're going to have a nice long harvest of them, Tom !

Thanks for the info. I will start a bunch at about the same time I plant onion seeds. It looks like I will be placing a very early seed order this year.

Artichoke update. They are coming strong, I have 3 more I will have to harvest tomorrow.

tveguy3 said:Artichoke update. They are coming strong, I have 3 more I will have to harvest tomorrow.

I find your Artichoke growing and your entire veggie garden very impressive.

I have to make sure I let one globe mature, Last time I waited too long, and it froze before it could open, but I'm not ready to sacrifice a bud yet.

I picked 7 artichokes today. I have three that I'm letting mature and bloom for seeds. They look like they should open in a few days.