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, 19 Mar 2010 02:09:03 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Carmen http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-121842 Carmen Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:03:11 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-121842 RigPie, I live in Minnesota so I have the opposite problem. I did manage to keep 3 artichoke plants alive and growing indoor during the almost 7 months of below freezing weather. I started them under flourescents lights, transplanted them into 12" pots and then took them outside once it was in the high forties. During the months they were inside after they were adult plants, I kept them next to my walkout basement glass door. They got big. My problem was trying to transplant them into the ground the next year. They have tap roots so they don't do well transplanted after they are big. They do need around 2 weeks of under 50 degree temperatures but considering the weather so far, that shouldn't be too much of a problem even for you. I started some seeds 2/26 and they just started to come up. RigPie, I live in Minnesota so I have the opposite problem. I did manage to keep 3 artichoke plants alive and growing indoor during the almost 7 months of below freezing weather. I started them under flourescents lights, transplanted them into 12″ pots and then took them outside once it was in the high forties. During the months they were inside after they were adult plants, I kept them next to my walkout basement glass door. They got big. My problem was trying to transplant them into the ground the next year. They have tap roots so they don’t do well transplanted after they are big. They do need around 2 weeks of under 50 degree temperatures but considering the weather so far, that shouldn’t be too much of a problem even for you. I started some seeds 2/26 and they just started to come up.

]]> By: RigPie2005 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-121779 RigPie2005 Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:22:50 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-121779 I am in Central Florida, artichokes are one of my favorites to eat but don't grow well here. Could I grow the plant indoors only with grow lights in a controled environment. Or Grow fairly large indoors then transplant in our fall season, after the heat of the summer. I am very interested in trying to do this I already have lots of flourescents, and a few HIDs for transplants, but i have some extra and like a challenge. I have been racking my brain, trying to figure out how to fake a cooler summer, I think even with a shade cloth the ambient temps are probly too high.I already grow lettuce indoor through the heat of the summer where they usually bolt quickly. I am in Central Florida, artichokes are one of my favorites to eat but don’t grow well here. Could I grow the plant indoors only with grow lights in a controled environment. Or Grow fairly large indoors then transplant in our fall season, after the heat of the summer. I am very interested in trying to do this I already have lots of flourescents, and a few HIDs for transplants, but i have some extra and like a challenge. I have been racking my brain, trying to figure out how to fake a cooler summer, I think even with a shade cloth the ambient temps are probly too high.I already grow lettuce indoor through the heat of the summer where they usually bolt quickly.

]]> By: Jim Hardcastle http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-121555 Jim Hardcastle Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:59:35 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-121555 Hi Kenny and other artichoke gardeners. I try to grow artichokes from seeds in my backyard here in Denton, Texas. Some years I'm quite successful -- other years not. I keep trying. I started seeds of green globe, imperial, and cardoon ( an artichoke relative) in early February and they sprouted alright, however, they started dying one by one. So yesterday I planted the remaining 7 outside, a drizzly near 50F, cover them with pine straw. Today they look great! Mother Nature seems to approve! I, too have let globes open to see the beautiful flower. Hi Kenny and other artichoke gardeners. I try to grow artichokes from seeds in my backyard here in Denton, Texas. Some years I’m quite successful — other years not. I keep trying. I started seeds of green globe, imperial, and cardoon ( an artichoke relative) in early February and they sprouted alright, however, they started dying one by one. So yesterday I planted the remaining 7 outside, a drizzly near 50F, cover them with pine straw. Today they look great! Mother Nature seems to approve! I, too have let globes open to see the beautiful flower.

]]> By: Kenny Point http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-121434 Kenny Point Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:50:33 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-121434 Good Luck Carmen! Hope you have better success this time around. Artichokes aren't the easiest crop to grow but do provide a great sense of accomplishment to nurture them into production and especially to get them to over winter. I need to start some artichoke seeds of my own this weekend! Good Luck Carmen! Hope you have better success this time around. Artichokes aren’t the easiest crop to grow but do provide a great sense of accomplishment to nurture them into production and especially to get them to over winter. I need to start some artichoke seeds of my own this weekend!

]]> By: Carmen http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-121423 Carmen Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:44:33 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-121423 I live in Minnesota and I am determined to grow artichokes. I'm getting closer (3rd year). Last year I grew three in containers outside , I then managed to overwinter them in my walk-out basement. They were fine for about two month after planted on the ground but then died. I'm trying again. This time I am preparing a raised bed to hopefully take better care of those babies. I am using annual instead of a regular type seeds this year. I started the seeds a week ago. Wish me luck. I live in Minnesota and I am determined to grow artichokes. I’m getting closer (3rd year). Last year I grew three in containers outside , I then managed to overwinter them in my walk-out basement. They were fine for about two month after planted on the ground but then died. I’m trying again. This time I am preparing a raised bed to hopefully take better care of those babies. I am using annual instead of a regular type seeds this year. I started the seeds a week ago. Wish me luck.

]]> By: Kenny Point http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-121427 Kenny Point Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:43:02 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-121427 Thanks for the tips Pat. I'm always looking for ideas to grow better artichokes here in the north where conditions aren't ideal for growing artichokes. Thanks for the tips Pat. I’m always looking for ideas to grow better artichokes here in the north where conditions aren’t ideal for growing artichokes.

]]> By: Pat Ford http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-121043 Pat Ford Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:49:18 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-121043 I am in Phoenix where the artichokes grow well. (mine big one is currently about 3 1/2 feet tall and 4 foot across and it still has about 2 or 3 months to artichokes) I have been growing them for about 10 years. I just found they love the run off from my huge mulch pile. The big plant is next to it this year and this is the first year it has done so well. The do like lot of sun. Don't die back at all til over 110 degrees for an extended period. They weather a light frost pretty well when they get older. I do cut all the dead off if the do dry up. I suggest you get the slimy part off. They like water here but less than any of my other garden plants, however they have done great in one of the rainiest Januarys and Februarys in Phoenix. The sprouts grow well in place, but don't like moving very much so be careful when you transplant. You can get a globe or 2 the first year but native gardeners here suggest letting it go to flower and cutting off flower when dry the first year, then harvesting subsequent years. If I can answer any questions about their natural habitat, please let me know. I am in Phoenix where the artichokes grow well. (mine big one is currently about 3 1/2 feet tall and 4 foot across and it still has about 2 or 3 months to artichokes) I have been growing them for about 10 years.

I just found they love the run off from my huge mulch pile. The big plant is next to it this year and this is the first year it has done so well. The do like lot of sun. Don’t die back at all til over 110 degrees for an extended period. They weather a light frost pretty well when they get older.

I do cut all the dead off if the do dry up. I suggest you get the slimy part off. They like water here but less than any of my other garden plants, however they have done great in one of the rainiest Januarys and Februarys in Phoenix. The sprouts grow well in place, but don’t like moving very much so be careful when you transplant.

You can get a globe or 2 the first year but native gardeners here suggest letting it go to flower and cutting off flower when dry the first year, then harvesting subsequent years.

If I can answer any questions about their natural habitat, please let me know.

]]> By: Sigrid http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-117600 Sigrid Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:06:02 +0000 http://www.veggiegardeningtips.com/growing-artichokes-in-spite-of-mother-nature/#comment-117600 I plant the artichokes just for fun. I'm at 1300 feet in the foothills of the cascades. Neighbors at 1600 feet grow them as perennials. I have left mine in the garden to overwinter this season. I just checked on them (I didn't cut them back or anything) and they look like dead, slimy yuck, but tall). I have a couple of heads on the ground without cover that I'm hoping will sprout. I could have had several heads to eat from my 4 plants. I started them from seed in April or May 09. My last possible date for frost is May 31. I never plant the garden before June 1, and I am lucky to have been able to till with the wet spring we have. I plant the artichokes just for fun. I’m at 1300 feet in the foothills of the cascades. Neighbors at 1600 feet grow them as perennials. I have left mine in the garden to overwinter this season. I just checked on them (I didn’t cut them back or anything) and they look like dead, slimy yuck, but tall). I have a couple of heads on the ground without cover that I’m hoping will sprout. I could have had several heads to eat from my 4 plants. I started them from seed in April or May 09. My last possible date for frost is May 31. I never plant the garden before June 1, and I am lucky to have been able to till with the wet spring we have.

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