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My globe artichokes have produced buds - not as big as you buy at the market in France but respectable nevertheless. My problem is I've only ever eaten them before not grown them. So....
how long do I wait before cutting them?
how much stem should I cut with the bud?
do I cut and store in the fridge until I've got enough for a meal or wait till the plants produce enough for a meal?

I suspect the kids won't like them - too much effort involved in eating them - so I can maybe just have one for myself.. or two even? ;)

I would let them grow on a bit yet and cut as you want to eat. Fidly so and so aren`t they?

Two inexperienced diners once ordered artichokes at a restaurant,not knowing what to do nor how to eat them they hid them so as not to give offense and to give the impression they had eaten and enjoyed them.

The waiter returned,looked at the plates and said " OK where have you hidden them?"

Just having a little chuckle here Cleo! ;D ;D

They are delicious and I definitely want to grow some next year... :)

I'm only growing artichokes for the first time this year, so I haven't got as far as a crop (therefore useless re the 'how long to wait before cutting them' bit  ::)).

But... as another experienced artichoke-eater, ;) I know you can cut them when they're very young, before the 'choke' forms, which means the whole artichoke innards are soft and edible. Lovely steamed, with a bit of vinaigrette. Which may well be worth trying. 

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D @Stefan.
Triffid you've convinced me. I think I'll go straight back now and cut the little darlings. ;) Never mind the potatoes baking in the oven, srtichokes are go!

How long is a piece of string?  To keep you occupied, Anne -

http://home.howstuffworks.com/globe-artichokes1.htm


Globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) is an herbaceous perennial that is grown for its tender, edible, immature flower buds. The globe artichoke should not be confused with Jerusalem artichoke, another member of the composite family native to North America, which is grown for its fleshy tubers. Globe artichoke plants can become large: four to five feet tall and wide, with long, heavily serrated silvery green leaves (Figure 1a). Unopened flower buds resemble large pinecones (Figure 1b). Buds can grow up to three to four inches in diameter, are rounded at the base, and tapering to the tip or blocky in shape. Many spiny, pointed, green bracts (small, leaf-like structures) surround the hidden flower parts. The buds are harvested at an immature stage before they open and expose the flower. The base of each bract and the large fleshy base or receptacle (artichoke “heart”) on which the flower and bracts are borne are fleshy and edible. If the buds are allowed to mature and open, the resulting flowers are quite attractive, large, and fragrant (Figure 1c).

An artichoke is ready for harvest when it has reached maximum size, but before the bracts open. Cut the top one first, then the secondary ones as they mature. Store at low temperatures (near 32°F) and high humidity (95% RH). In addition to minerals and vitamins, artichokes contain about 3% protein and 0.2% fat.

You might just as well dip a cabbage leaf in Butter?  But it's the quality of the Butter that is the crunch.

Wow! Thank you Tim. I love artichokes to bits with just a bit of vinaigette or aioli. I wrapped them in fleece last winter and that seemed to do the trick of keeping them cosy. Grew them from seed last year but I hope to take slips from the best ones next year and selectively breed them bigger and more beautiful.