About globe artichokes.

[goodlife]

I've never eaten any artichokes..yet..have grown them but only for the flowers.
So..this year I'm going for it and I've got myself selection of seeds. I'm not expecting much this year..but who knows, I might get a taster, if lucky.
I have some Romanesco, Violet de Provence, Violetter di Chioggia and Gros Vert de Laon seeds. I was just wondering what varieties you lot have grown before..what does best..or taste best..any comparisons?
And..if anybody should have any other variety seeds spare than what I've listed..swap ? ;) ;D ;D

[goodlife]

[Kleftiwallah]

These artichokes, are they the Jerusalem jobs or those waste of space big thistles?   

If the former, dig em up and peel into water with a dash of lemon juice to stop them discolouring.   Fuseau is the best variety but if anyone near you is growing Jerusalems, they will be only too happy to let you have a few roots.     Cheers,      Tony.

[goodlife]

I've changed the heading..I'm talking about the 'thisle' like artichokes.
I've got plenty of jerusalem sort...thanks anyway... :)

[markfield rover]

I have grown these, lost them last winter and will be sowing again soon, I like them they are a fiddle to eat but the wine helps.
I had been told not to harvest in the first year  so I ignored that  enjoyed them and next year were even better.
Sorry not to have anything different to swap.

[Squash64]

I've got quite a lot but they are not named varieties - they were given to me by my Italian relations.  (I did grow 'Emerald' from Dobies a few years ago and it produced in the first year but it is now mixed up with all my others.)

Would you like some side shoots?

[grawrc]

Mine are just the basic green globe and I'm usually working when they are ready so don't often get to eat very many before they get too coarse.

I am amazed at the number of people that stop, passing my plot, to comment on how beautiful they are when in flower.

[antipodes]

goodlife, I am an artichoke freak! They will be too small in the first year if you grow from seed, and they won't flower, as you sow in spring, plant out in the summer and you will get flowers next year, so you might get a fruit or two (after a couple of years they produce many flowers!!! and then as they get very big, divide them up like rhubarb, they will thank you for it.) They are better grown from cuttings to be honest, or rather crowns, like rhubarb. I have some bog-standard green globe seeds if you like. These are the ordinary ones much grown and eaten here in Brittany. We love them! I usually get up to 10 artichokes from a plant, you must cut them off when they are large and the leaves (the "petals" on the flowers, the sort of green "scales") are just starting to spread out- don't let them get bigger or they will be full of the hairy bits and not nice. See any purple and it's too late to eat them.

I now have 2 Italian plants too, with the small violet artichokes. They have to be trimmed and sliced and then cooked in dishes, rather than just boiled and eaten like the Breton artichokes. I am very much looking forward to those despite the fussiness involved. Trouble with artichokes is that they take up a lot of space for little outcome! But I do like them, and I much admire their hardiness.

[Squash64]

Mine are just the basic green globe and I'm usually working when they are ready so don't often get to eat very many before they get too coarse.

I am amazed at the number of people that stop, passing my plot, to comment on how beautiful they are when in flower.

They are such a vivid blue and bees love them too.

[goodlife]

Well...I wasn't going to grow any for myself at first..but then I promised to get some seeds for fellow gardener from over seas and as I've got seeds bought..I thought 'sod it..I'll have a go growing them myself too'.. ::)
I did grow quite a lot of them in my college days that was just across the road from me..but across the road the soil is very different so I'm hoping they will grow as well as then but on my side of the road.
I never had a chance of tasting any..so I'm going to go into one of last of my culinary ventures that there is left in veg world.
I looove the flowers..we did big feature out of artichoke flowers on one of the beds in college and they were buzzing with insects.
Squash..I would love couple of side shoots...if you don't mind. I'll send you PM.