Topic: Globe artichoke and asparagus

[aquilegia]

Do slugs eat globe artichoke and asparagus plants?

What sort of upkeep do they need? I know about preparing asparagus beds, but what about the artichoke?

I'm thinking about getting some.

[Gillian]

I have another question about artichokes - it says in my gardening book to cut them down at this time of year and put some straw around the plant to protect it from frost. I have bought the straw and am ready to bed it down for the winter - however the book doesn't say how far to chop it down?
Do I go right to the soil? Or just chop the leaves off? All three of my plants have a tall central stem, should I chop that down too?

Any advice?
thanks

[chriszog]

Never had problems with slugs on the asparagus but have seen them on the new growth of the chokes. I dont cut mine down just leave to die off then cover with straw, which i remove as the new growth starts in the spring. I then add compost as a mulch and they then look after themselves.
Regards
Chris

[Gillian]

Brilliant - thanks for all the advice.
One more question - Being a novice I made the obvious mistake of planting my artichokes too close together ( I didn' t know how big they get). So I now need to move two of them to another spot.
When is the best time to do this? Should I leave it till Spring or do it now?
Not sure if it's getting a bit cold to move them now.

Any advice?

[cleo]

Moving them?-umm,now might be OK,but here on the Lincs/Cambs border the weather has turned-ie frost at night.

You could take some and pot them up to stay in a frost free place and plant out in the spring.

I agree with all previously said, artichokes are pretty hardy as long as the soil in winter is not waterlogged and cold for a long time.

[chriszog]

Moved mine on Sunday. Fingers crossed.

[Mrs Ava]

My choke plants are still huge, and lush, and green!  Even the frost didn't bother them, where as my cardoon looked a little chill shocked! 

What I would say Aqui is, they is BIG beasts and bulk up rapidly!  But, they are stunning, even if you don't eat them.  I didn't have any bug or beastie problems and the kids, Ava and I thouroughly enjoyed watching the big bumble bees wriggling deep into the purple flowers and coming out smothered in pollen and absolutely drunk as lords!

My asparagus is also trouble free - if a little light cropping, but then my crowns are planted in dappled shade, but there is enough for me to have a good few meals from it.

If you have room, I would have them both, luxury veg, that you pay a huge premium for in the greengrocers, and yet, easy peasy lemon squeezy to grow your own!

[colleenemp]

I put in 5 globe artichokes this summer, one got slugged by the giant orange fellows, but it is fighting back, I agree about planting so called luxury veg, the other plus is that they last a good few years, so less of the early days panic... (unless it's just myself that experiences that ....)
I think artichoke plants look fantastic, also good for hiding tools etc if you aren't allowed a shed (tree plan didnt pan out....booooo)

[fbgrifter]

slugs ate ALL my neighbours asparagus to the ground, they were so upset (understandably) that these normally organic gardeners went out and bought slug pellets!

i interplanted my asparagus with hollyhocks, slugs ate the holly hocks but left the asparagus!

[derbex]

Slugs ate the artichoke in our garden -the ones at the allotment have fared better.

Jeremy

[chriszog]

Not easy to dig up the roots were huge.
http://chriszog.smugmug.com/photos/44165642-S.jpg
took 1 1/2 hours to dig up 10 crowns hope they survive.
Chris

[aquilegia]

well I was all encouraged... maybe I'll try growing them from seed rather than getting plants - less money, but more time too lose that way! (ever the optimist!)

[undercarriage plan]

Hey Aqui, I grew mine from seed few years back, are lovely big plants now, gorgeous flowers, and I just leave them to get on with it, cut off dead bits and that's it. I took cuttings from offsets last season, that worked well too. Have fun
Lottie  :)

[Derekthefox]

I have just learned that I may be acquiring some asparagus seedlings, and artichoke tubers, so perhaps I should have been paying attention to threads like this one!

I will send myself to the back of the class ...

Derekthefox :D

[aquilegia]

Should have asked this one from the start - what varieties should I get?

Is purple asparagus any good? (I like different coloured things!)

[wardy]

Aqui   I found this pic today.  It looks lovely doesn't it?

[Mrs Ava]

Aqui, if you remember, remind me come spring and  I will dig you up a plant of artichoke....providing mine all make it through the winter!

[aquilegia]

Wardy - that does look lovely! I love chive flowers too - but for some reason I cannot get them to germinate? Must pinch a lump off mum.

EJ -  :-* That would be lovely! Thank you so much!

[aquilegia]

Thanks for the tip - I'll try that next year.

[EmmaLou]

Not easy to dig up the roots were huge.
http://chriszog.smugmug.com/photos/44165642-S.jpg
took 1 1/2 hours to dig up 10 crowns hope they survive.
Chris

Blimey!  :oSeeing those roots makes me wish I hadn't planted mine so close to the greenhouse! I planted it there before I did my research! I was going to move it, but now I'm worried the greenhouse might collapse! lol

I had problems with aphids on my globe artichoke- didn't seem to hurt the plant though.