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, 03 Feb 2012 18:33:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-232681 Tony Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:45:39 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-232681 I have 11 plants that have survived my first year of trying. As the temperatures cooled here in western Montana I backed off on watering them waiting for them to go dormant so I could try to winter them stored in my attached garage. About a week after I cut back the water I have a small 'choke starting on 1 of the plants. I have since moved a couple of the plants into the house to try to keep them growing through the winter. Hoping to have a couple of the plants make it covered with straw and blankets so I can get an earlier start in the spring -- Otherwise it will be back to planting some more from seed. Thanks for all of your ideas that are posted on this site. I have 11 plants that have survived my first year of trying. As the temperatures cooled here in western Montana I backed off on watering them waiting for them to go dormant so I could try to winter them stored in my attached garage. About a week after I cut back the water I have a small ‘choke starting on 1 of the plants. I have since moved a couple of the plants into the house to try to keep them growing through the winter. Hoping to have a couple of the plants make it covered with straw and blankets so I can get an earlier start in the spring — Otherwise it will be back to planting some more from seed. Thanks for all of your ideas that are posted on this site.

]]> http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-224793 Barbara Tue, 15 Nov 2011 20:23:32 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-224793 I live in Calgary, Alberta, zone 3. I have an artichoke rescued and brought inside. It is still healthy, has a small fruit drying (I will try seeds). Several shoots started growing 2 weeks ago. After reading all your comments I am now considering cutting the whole thing back and finding a safe cold area - maybe our marginally heated garage. Can the roots survive below freezing and how much below? I may also just leave it in the east window for our very long winter and see if it survives. I noticed aphids on it today but I think I got them all. I live in Calgary, Alberta, zone 3. I have an artichoke rescued and brought inside. It is still healthy, has a small fruit drying (I will try seeds). Several shoots started growing 2 weeks ago. After reading all your comments I am now considering cutting the whole thing back and finding a safe cold area – maybe our marginally heated garage. Can the roots survive below freezing and how much below? I may also just leave it in the east window for our very long winter and see if it survives. I noticed aphids on it today but I think I got them all.

]]> http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-222093 J Sat, 12 Nov 2011 01:00:31 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-222093 I'm in zone 5 and I've had success so far (fingers crossed) with keeping my artichoke as a houseplant over winter. I let it grow in the shadiest spot of my garden all summer (in an area with frequent 100+ degree temps) where it seemed to thrive, and I waited until after the first snow to remove it from the ground and transplant to pot. The leaves survived the snow, and I didn't wait for the plant to go dormant. It's doing well right now in a sunny window and it is probably 3 feet across. I’m in zone 5 and I’ve had success so far (fingers crossed) with keeping my artichoke as a houseplant over winter. I let it grow in the shadiest spot of my garden all summer (in an area with frequent 100+ degree temps) where it seemed to thrive, and I waited until after the first snow to remove it from the ground and transplant to pot. The leaves survived the snow, and I didn’t wait for the plant to go dormant. It’s doing well right now in a sunny window and it is probably 3 feet across.

]]> http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-213580 Carmen Sat, 22 Oct 2011 21:17:19 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-213580 I just wanted to do an update on my artichoke plants (zone 4). I did manage to grow two small artichokes. They tasted great, too bad they weren't bigger. I'll keep trying. Two of the roots seem to still be alive after a few below freezing days. I've been trying to research how to keep them alive through the winter but not really growing since my previous experience resulted in them dying after I planted them in the ground after surviving 7 months indoors. I know some places sell the roots (not here) so there has to be a way to store them until ready to plant. If anyone knows how, please let me know. I'm hoping for BIG artichokes next year. I just wanted to do an update on my artichoke plants (zone 4). I did manage to grow two small artichokes. They tasted great, too bad they weren’t bigger. I’ll keep trying. Two of the roots seem to still be alive after a few below freezing days. I’ve been trying to research how to keep them alive through the winter but not really growing since my previous experience resulted in them dying after I planted them in the ground after surviving 7 months indoors. I know some places sell the roots (not here) so there has to be a way to store them until ready to plant. If anyone knows how, please let me know. I’m hoping for BIG artichokes next year.

]]> http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-211899 Nina Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:43:44 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-211899 My plants are still doing well outside in pots. After they completely die back I'm going to put them into a large plastic container in the garage (attached, so it doesn't freeze) with straw packed around and over them. I'm hoping that at least one will survive and give me a head start in the spring. I'll bring them in when they're damp, not soaking wet. My plants are still doing well outside in pots. After they completely die back I’m going to put them into a large plastic container in the garage (attached, so it doesn’t freeze) with straw packed around and over them. I’m hoping that at least one will survive and give me a head start in the spring. I’ll bring them in when they’re damp, not soaking wet.

]]> http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-212650 Kenny Point Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:52:29 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-212650 Anna, you will definitely need to devise some way to protect the plants over the winter if you want them to survive. Lifting and moving them to a sheltered area is probably your best option but there is no guarantee on how they will over winter. Or you can treat them as annuals and raise new plants each season. Good luck! Anna, you will definitely need to devise some way to protect the plants over the winter if you want them to survive. Lifting and moving them to a sheltered area is probably your best option but there is no guarantee on how they will over winter. Or you can treat them as annuals and raise new plants each season. Good luck!

]]> http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-211082 Anna Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:36:14 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-211082 I live in Toronto Canada and I planted 4 plants this year. Its my first attempt at planting artichokes. One of the plants actually grew and produced 3 artichokes but the others remained relatively small. You mentioned it would be good to put them in a shed or garage from the winter. Would that apply for Toronto winters as well? Winter temperatures typically drop to 10 degrees below freezing. I live in Toronto Canada and I planted 4 plants this year. Its my first attempt at planting artichokes. One of the plants actually grew and produced 3 artichokes but the others remained relatively small. You mentioned it would be good to put them in a shed or garage from the winter. Would that apply for Toronto winters as well? Winter temperatures typically drop to 10 degrees below freezing.

]]> http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-205904 Tony Fri, 07 Oct 2011 20:43:11 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-205904 After getting a greenhouse in spring of 2010, last spring I decided to give artichokes a try. Living in Western Montana, I expected a challenge. After starting from seed in early May, I transplanted the small plants into some larger pots and kept them in the greenhouse for the summer. I now have 11 plants that have grown quite well and 3 of the plants have produced fruit this first year. 5 'chokes so far and now I am searching for the best way to over-winter the plants so I can continue them next spring. After getting a greenhouse in spring of 2010, last spring I decided to give artichokes a try. Living in Western Montana, I expected a challenge. After starting from seed in early May, I transplanted the small plants into some larger pots and kept them in the greenhouse for the summer. I now have 11 plants that have grown quite well and 3 of the plants have produced fruit this first year. 5 ‘chokes so far and now I am searching for the best way to over-winter the plants so I can continue them next spring.

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