Globe Artichokes - OK to sow now?

[supersprout]

Can globe artichoke seed be sown in the next couple of months, i.e. at the time the flower would be dropping seed in nature? I don't mind missing a crop this year from the plants, just want to get them off to a healthy start and wondered if it's essential to wait and sow until early next year, or if they can be sown now, like ornamental thistles. Has anyone advice on whether this will result in good plants? Thank you :)

[supersprout]

[Looby Loo]

Ah ha!!  My turn to help you.

I sowed my artichokes early summer last year.  They didn't do very much last year apart from grow but now they are bigger than me and have between 12 and 15 fruits on each one.  That's not counting all the ones I picked already.   I think it's worth a go.

[cleo]

Maybe some kind person may let you have a cutting or two?-check your `inbox` :)

[supersprout]

Thank you both ;D
I'm thinking of taking on the vacant half-plot opposite me (just been mown, and not yet roter-vated >:( thank goodness) and having half a plot of nowt but artichokes. Heaven!
But I have two plots already :-[
Is this just being greedy? :-[ :-[

[cleo]

not at all-I had six of them in my Leeds days. We will marry my toms with your hearts one day :)

[organicartist]

hiya sprout

you're just down the road from me, would you like some artichoke offshoots in a few months?

[supersprout]

ooer cleo, a tomato/heart cross:



oa, I would be very grateful for offshoots to top up the artichoke field next Spring, thank you! I would love to leg it over to Dogsthorpe and have a peek at your lottie too :o :) :D

[robkb]

Hi Supersprout,

Funny you should ask this, as I bought some seeds at Sarah Raven's open day a couple of weeks ago and asked her the very same question! The answer was a definite yes - just protect them over winter if necessary or keep them in pots under cover until next spring.

My God, I think that's the first time I've ever known the answer to someone else's question! :o :o

Cheers,
Rob ;)

[supersprout]

Thank you rob, I'm sowing like a demon now ;D

[robkb]

You're welcome, and apologies for the blatant name-dropping! :-[

Cheers,
Rob ;)