Here's a picture of my new artichoke plants "lulu".
I trimmed off all the dead leaves, watered them, and let them recover 24 hours. I planted them last night
I put frost cloth down because it let's the water through, even thou weeds still grow under it. But, it makes a path for me with no ticks, grass burrs, or snakes.
Gembler's. It is thick, and strong. I will point out, though, that I put two layers of it over 2013 tomato plants+covered them at night with black plastic hoops. It did not save the tomatoes. Some here say I should have taken them off days and let the sun warm the soil. True.
15°, and that was just a few times. Someone nearby (15 miles), just recently got down to 31, she had a thin frost cloth, and her tomato leaves all died. Makes me wonder if it's really worth getting.
Most are really only meant to protect a few degrees. 15 is COLD!!! I use a floating row cover but it is lighter and it does protect, BUT, we got down to 27 for an extended period and it zapped most of my plants, except the Pac Choi! Previously I used the floating row cover AND plastic when I knew it was going to get below 32, then remove the plastic after the threat has passed. I don't know why I didn't do that this year. My floating row cover stays on all season to protect from insects and wandering guineas.
I'm going to put wire around the artichokes tomorrow before the guinea pull them up. Last year one of them pulled a 3' corn plant over by one leaf. However, when we moved here 9 years ago, there were so many grasshoppers, you couldn't walk and talk at the same time. Now, they are rare.
I found this old thread and woke it up as I have my artichoke seeds soaking and are ready to start. I haven't grown them since this thread was started, I am getting them going a bit earlier this time. I did have some to eat last time, so I know it can work here. anyone else going to grow them?
Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often, and for the same reason.
That's a start! Can you over winter them down there? I tried mulching mine one year, and of course we had the winter from hell that year, and lots of things died, including my artichokes and one of my peach trees.
Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often, and for the same reason.
After 3 years, and only getting artichokes the first year, I'm giving up. Last year, the rabbits mowed down my plants and they never recovered. As much as I love a challenge, I've decided it is not worth my time and space to never got a crop.
That's a start! Can you over winter them down there? I tried mulching mine one year, and of course we had the winter from hell that year, and lots of things died, including my artichokes and one of my peach trees.
