Allotments 4 All

My lottie neighbour has a hedge of globe artichokes, and has said I can take slips. I have a sharp knife and loads of ambition, but no previous experience of taking slips from anything, let alone an artichoke.

What soil do they like?
How will I recognise a slip, and how should I cut it off the parent?
How deep to plant?
Is it the right time of year for slippage?
How many years before the first artichoke?

Hope someone can help, hope you might have pictures too, any and all help gratefully received  ::)

I have muddled through and done okay, so I will tell you what I did (and will do for you Aqui next week when I get to the plot!)

Look at the mumma plant around the base and there should be lots of little plants around it.  With you sharp knife, or spade, slide down carefully trying not to damage either mumma or baby.  You want to go down and get some roots on the baby.  I then replant at the same sort of depth as it was growing - so the crown isn't buried, but the roots are nicely in.  Mine rampage along my allotment in heavyish soil in full sun.  Mine receive no extra water but did get a good heavy winter mulch of rotted horsey poop!  ;D  I imagine I should feed them.....advice anyone?

As for when you will get your first, I see no reason for you not to get a couple of small ones this summer.  Good luck!

Hope you get answers cos I'd like to know too!

Thanks EJ! So if you have a bed of globe artichokes do you just let them grown all the slips which sound a bit like runners or would you cut them back every year, using what you needed to increase your stock or "reinvigorate" your stock with these younger plants?

Globe artichokes are much tougher than some would have you believe-you can split them with a spade. Then either pot up or plant out depending on the time of year.

I reckon on two seasons before I crop new plants-but do take the heads of before they flower.

Oh and Supersprout-given we live not so very far apart,they are perfectly winter hardy unless you live on the clay belt-in which case add some grit or somesuch -they can take cold but not waterlogging.

Stephan

Thanks for that Stephan. Pretty clayey here. i'll set up my offensives!

Quote from: EJ - Emma Jane on April 01, 2006, 17:07:16
With you sharp knife, or spade, slide down carefully trying not to damage either mumma or baby.  You want to go down and get some roots on the baby. 

:P ::) now these instructions I can follow! :D

Thank you EJ and cleo, will be out with little knife or big spade Sunday. Hopefully will be able to report mumma and babies doing well later ;)

I only harvested and ate half of mine last year...the row of plants produced dozens and dozens of flowers!  Being as it is only mum and I that like them.....well, I was eating them for lunch and supper every day!  ;D  I haven't bothered to split mine yet as they are only going into their third year, but with any perennial type plant, I figure the flowering vigour will reduce over time so the big old central plants will come out and replaced with the new younger models.  I assume this autumn, next spring will be when I should start on the bigger thugs.

I would recommend anyone growing them, even just one, because like the cardoon, they are amazing plants!  They are HUGE though, and some are incredibly spikey, but for wow factor, I can't think of anything as good!