Wasting massive flowers? Why?
There is a seed catalogue, Dobies? can't remember, except that they pride themselves on selling artichoke seed which will produce in the first year. That would seem to contradict cutting flowers off entirely.
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Its is purely because someone told him this is what you do,I have seen globe a's with very small flower buds on in thier first year(more like thistles) but these look superb.
I rescued a couple he had discarded so I will be having those tonight.