Comments on: Growing Artichokes in Spite of Mother Nature http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/ Featuring Vegetable Gardening Tips, Organic Growing Techniques, and Unique Plants for the Backyard Gardener Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:11:01 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kenny Point http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-103919 Kenny Point Fri, 07 Aug 2009 04:13:09 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-103919 Hi Liliana, I would cut the blooming artichokes back when they are done and don't know any reason why they wouldn't continue to produce for you. Here in the north artichokes are often treated as annuals because of the cold winters but that is not an issue for you in San Jose. I'm not sure that I follow what you are describing as shoots on the third artichoke plant. I would watch to see if these new "shoots" on the plant will produce new chokes. Hi Liliana, I would cut the blooming artichokes back when they are done and don’t know any reason why they wouldn’t continue to produce for you. Here in the north artichokes are often treated as annuals because of the cold winters but that is not an issue for you in San Jose. I’m not sure that I follow what you are describing as shoots on the third artichoke plant. I would watch to see if these new “shoots” on the plant will produce new chokes.

]]> By: Liliana Rossmann http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-103470 Liliana Rossmann Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:21:35 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-103470 We live in San José, CA, close to artichoke ground zero, and have four plants on the side of the driveway. Three gave us delicious chokes this year, the fourth one I believe is not getting either enough sun or water or both, for it's the same size as when it was planted a year ago (Aug. 2008). We let two out of the three producing plants bloom; we cut off all the chokes from the third one, which is now growing shoots out of its base. My questions are: 1) what should I do with the blooming plants? Cut back and hope they yield another year? 2) is the non-blooming plant growing a shoot precisely because it did not bloom? Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated! We live in San José, CA, close to artichoke ground zero, and have four plants on the side of the driveway. Three gave us delicious chokes this year, the fourth one I believe is not getting either enough sun or water or both, for it’s the same size as when it was planted a year ago (Aug. 2008). We let two out of the three producing plants bloom; we cut off all the chokes from the third one, which is now growing shoots out of its base.

My questions are: 1) what should I do with the blooming plants? Cut back and hope they yield another year? 2) is the non-blooming plant growing a shoot precisely because it did not bloom? Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated!

]]> By: Kenny Point http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-103504 Kenny Point Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:58:07 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-103504 Congrats Foodie, that's pretty impressive that you managed to raise an artichoke in Iowa, and in a container at that! You can harvest the artichoke at whatever size you prefer. Pick it while the bud is still tight and before it starts to open. If you leave it the bud will open into an attractive purple flower. Congrats Foodie, that’s pretty impressive that you managed to raise an artichoke in Iowa, and in a container at that! You can harvest the artichoke at whatever size you prefer. Pick it while the bud is still tight and before it starts to open. If you leave it the bud will open into an attractive purple flower.

]]> By: Foodie http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-103466 Foodie Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:03:24 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-103466 I did it! I live in Iowa and I successfully raised one in a planter. My plant has a tiny 1 1/2 inch globe artichoke! Now, when do I harvest it? And, should I bring the whole plant inside next to a sunny window for the winter, or should I just put it in the garage and let it go to sleep? I did it! I live in Iowa and I successfully raised one in a planter. My plant has a tiny 1 1/2 inch globe artichoke! Now, when do I harvest it? And, should I bring the whole plant inside next to a sunny window for the winter, or should I just put it in the garage and let it go to sleep?

]]> By: Sarabi http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-98869 Sarabi Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:29:49 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-98869 Thanks for this info. I'm trying this for the 1st time this year. Thanks! Thanks for this info. I’m trying this for the 1st time this year. Thanks!

]]> By: Kenny Point http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-98218 Kenny Point Sat, 30 May 2009 20:40:49 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-98218 Justin, have you been watering the artichoke plants that are growing in the containers, they will probably tend to dry out quicker than the plants that are in the ground? Justin, have you been watering the artichoke plants that are growing in the containers, they will probably tend to dry out quicker than the plants that are in the ground?

]]> By: Justin http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-97094 Justin Fri, 29 May 2009 22:26:34 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-97094 I have a question about globe 'chokes'. I live in central berks county PA. I have my 'choke' plants intermixed with elephant ears. There is plenty of seperation room. They are planted in full sun, and loose soil intermixed with small river stones. I also have some in large terracotta pots. The ones in the ground look AMAZING. The ones in the pots not so hot. The leaves are browning and falling off. I put 1/2 cup of organic bone meal and 1/4 cup of organic dried blood mixed with other organic fertalizer. On all the plants when I planted them. Did I over fertalize? Or is there another reason. There are small green leaves shooting from the base but all the big leaves are falling off. What do I do? I have a question about globe ‘chokes’. I live in central berks county PA. I have my ‘choke’ plants intermixed with elephant ears. There is plenty of seperation room. They are planted in full sun, and loose soil intermixed with small river stones. I also have some in large terracotta pots. The ones in the ground look AMAZING. The ones in the pots not so hot. The leaves are browning and falling off. I put 1/2 cup of organic bone meal and 1/4 cup of organic dried blood mixed with other organic fertalizer. On all the plants when I planted them. Did I over fertalize? Or is there another reason. There are small green leaves shooting from the base but all the big leaves are falling off. What do I do?

]]> By: Vicki http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-96308 Vicki Sat, 23 May 2009 08:42:59 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-96308 Brian, You have over watered as I ALWAYS do. If these are potted plants, I suggest buying a bag of Perlite to mix in which will help aerate the soil; give it better drainage. Adding peebles in the bottom of the pot could also help. Miracle Grow, also, has this mew Moisture Control soil that I just decided to try.. If you can, dump out the wet soil onto newspaper to dry out, replant the plant in new perlite mixed soil. Brian,
You have over watered as I ALWAYS do. If these are potted plants, I suggest buying a bag of Perlite to mix in which will help aerate the soil; give it better drainage. Adding peebles in the bottom of the pot could also help. Miracle Grow, also, has this mew Moisture Control soil that I just decided to try..

If you can, dump out the wet soil onto newspaper to dry out, replant the plant in new perlite mixed soil.

]]>