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.
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
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
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?
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.
Moved mine on Sunday. Fingers crossed.
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!
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)
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!
Slugs ate the artichoke in our garden -the ones at the allotment have fared better.
Jeremy
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
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!)
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 :)
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
Should have asked this one from the start - what varieties should I get?
Is purple asparagus any good? (I like different coloured things!)
Aqui  I found this pic today. It looks lovely doesn't it?
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!
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!
Thanks for the tip - I'll try that next year.
Quote from: chriszog on November 17, 2005, 14:16:53
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.
Well I have both artichoke tubers AND asparagus seedlings, generously donated ... they will remain in the greenhouse until ready for planting ...
Derekthefox :D
I havent searched anywhere yet, so if I'm posting here and shouldnt be please direct me.....do i need to fleece or put a layer of straw on my artichoke and asparagus. Both are still big and green.
Thanks,
AC
Well I took my artichokes and asparagus down to the allotment today, intending to store them in the greenhouse until planting in the spring. I will put the asparagus into larger pots so they are comfortable, and store the artichoke tubers in buckets of compost. I must remember to put a label on !!! This will give me time to determine the best location for them.
Derekthefox :D
I do the same as Wardy, I mulch the asparagus with seaweed ( there's a story! ::)) but leave the artichokes to get on with it, and luckily they do!
Lottie
Since I live three miles from the furthest point from the sea, I doubt I will be applying much seaweed ... ;D
Derekthefox :D
Hi Derek
I thought the furthest point from the sea was a small village near Tring in Herts, may be wrong though but I remember a Guy that lived there telling me he was a mad Sea fisherman and that he couldnt get any further away from it.
Regards
Chris
Well i live three miles from the village of Meriden, which is the centre of England, there is a cross there which is believed to be the actual centre ... now I realise that the centre, does not necessarily give the the furthest distance, but considering the shape of England, it is unlikely not to be. My nearest bit of sea, is Weston Supermare, at about 110 miles ...
Derekthefox :D
Derek
Is this near you
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/derbyshire/3090539.stm
It says the village of Coton in the Elms Derbyshire is the furthest away????
More exploration needed
Derek
According to multimap it is here?
http://uk.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=425500&Y=314500&width=700&height=400&client=europe&gride=425400&gridn=314300&srec=0&coordsys=gb&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&scale=100000
Regards
Chris
Yes I know of that location, and can believe it could be correct. Knowing that the closest sea to me is Weston Supermare, it makes sense for the furthest point to be a bit further north ... I went to an excellent folk festival just east of that point, the village of Oakthorpe, you can see it on the map ...
Thanks for that research ...
Derekthefox :D
Quote from: Derekthefox on November 28, 2005, 15:35:50
Yes I know of that location, and can believe it could be correct. Knowing that the closest sea to me is Weston Supermare, it makes sense for the furthest point to be a bit further north ... I went to an excellent folk festival just east of that point, the village of Oakthorpe, you can see it on the map ...
Thanks for that research ...
Derekthefox :D
Is that an annual festival Derek?