Artichokes....HELP!

[Inailum]

Can anyone please tell me when the heck to harvest my artichokes plants? I have two artichoke plants. One of them has 2 and the other has 3. I was told to cut them before they open. Mine are starting to open (just the bottom leaves) but they are little. I have no clue as to what I am doing! lol

[Inailum]

Here are pictures, tell me what you think. Should I cut them now or wait? I know they are not edible after they flower. I'm just not sure what to do.

[applestar]

Definitely harvest them. I don't grow them but when picking them at the store, I would consider the second one a bit open, and the first one too open.

[Inailum]

Definitely harvest them. I don't grow them but when picking them at the store, I would consider the second one a bit open, and the first one too open.

Thanks Applestar! You pretty much confirmed my thoughts. I actually considered just leaving the 2nd one to flower. I've seen pictures and they look really pretty. I have eaten artichokes since I was a little girl, they are very popular here in California. I kept thinking they were just too small and kept hoping they would grow a little bigger before I it was time to cut them. I just went outside and did the deed. Thank you again!

[Inailum]

Definitely harvest them. I don't grow them but when picking them at the store, I would consider the second one a bit open, and the first one too open.

Hey Applestar, just wanted to let you know that I cooked the artichokes I harvested today and they were absolutely delightful! I cant wait for more! Thanks again!

[applestar]

You are very welcome!
I appreciate that you posted back to tell me. I love artichokes. One of those things that I can't stop eating once I start. Lucky you for being able to grow them in your garden!

...they should grow side shoots/buds now right? I see that one has two already.

[gumbo2176]

Here are pictures, tell me what you think. Should I cut them now or wait? I know they are not edible after they flower. I'm just not sure what to do.







[img]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y64/inailum/Garden/DSC03647.jpg[/i

mg]

Are those artichoke plants second year plants or were they planted this season? I grew some several years ago and now have 5 in my garden and they do well in SE Louisiana. I never got a choke off the first year plant but did get several off them the second year they grew.

The ones I now have are getting pretty big and the plants are robust but no sign of a choke. If they do like the last time I planted them, I'll not see a choke until sometime next year about this time of the season after over-wintering.

[gumbo2176]

Definitely harvest them. I don't grow them but when picking them at the store, I would consider the second one a bit open, and the first one too open.

Hey Applestar, just wanted to let you know that I cooked the artichokes I harvested today and they were absolutely delightful! I cant wait for more! Thanks again!

Forgot to ask in my other post, just how do you like them cooked? My favorite is stuffed artichoke. I recently fixed 4 that I got from the local market that way and they were a huge hit.

I also steam them and drizzle them with a bit of oil and vinegar, sea salt and pepper and eat them that way or use the hearts in soup like a good pot of oyster/artichoke soup.

We had a restaurant in New Orleans that fixed the best "Seafood Stuffed Artichoke." They would lightly batter small bits of fish, shrimp, oysters and quick fry it then place that in one of the largest whole artichokes that had been steamed till very tender, then they'd cover that in one of the most intense dill sauces I've ever eaten. One artichoke, a good Italian Salad and an order of Garlic/Cheese/Spinach Bread and you had yourself a serious meal.

[Inailum]

Are those artichoke plants second year plants or were they planted this season? I grew some several years ago and now have 5 in my garden and they do well in SE Louisiana. I never got a choke off the first year plant but did get several off them the second year they grew.

The ones I now have are getting pretty big and the plants are robust but no sign of a choke. If they do like the last time I planted them, I'll not see a choke until sometime next year about this time of the season after over-wintering.

Yes they are second year plants. They were given to me last fall as a gift. I just kept them in their pots on my back patio all winter until it was time to plant my garden. I have read in several places that they never produce the first year. This is why I am now thinking that I want to go to the nursery and pick up a couple more to insure that I will have lots to harvest next year. You are so lucky to have 5! They are truly one of my favorite things to eat. Now, correct me if I'm understanding this wrong but is it true that they will produce buds for harvesting (or flowers) until early-mid summer then they will sort of shrivel up until the fall when they will produce again? Its funny to have so many questions about a plant when hundreds of years ago these things probably just grew wild and perfect all on their own. lol

Usually when I prepare them I either steam or boil them and then add a little bit of olive oil and lemon juice. Of course if I'm feeling really unhealthy I will opt for the melted butter with a dash of salt and pepper, nummy! I have never had them stuffed but it sounds delicious! I saw a recipe online the other day I might try. The one with the seafood you told me about sounds absolutely heavenly! Oh my goodness, just talking about them makes my mouth water!

Thanks for all your info. If you learn anything new please do share with me as I will do the same with you. I noticed that there aren't a lot of people on here growing them. They are missing out on one of lifes little treasures!

[Inailum]

:D You are very welcome!
I appreciate that you posted back to tell me. I love artichokes. One of those things that I can't stop eating once I start. Lucky you for being able to grow them in your garden!

...they should grow side shoots/buds now right? I see that one has two already.

Yes I do feel very lucky to be able to grow them, they say California is the artichoke capitol of the world. lol I live in the San Joaquin Valley and the summers here are very hot (upper 90's-100) and dry so this isn't their ideal place to grow. My Dad lives in Southern California on the coast in Ventura and they are literally everywhere down there. My first plant has one bud already sprouting and the second plant has two. I wish they produce more quickly as the two we had yesterday just makes me crave them! lol

A funny little story, I moved to a small town in Virginia for about 10 years and nobody there even knew what an artichoke was, nor did they know what a pomegranate was. lol About a year before I moved back to California I was in the grocery store there and I saw pomegranates!! Right next to them was an instruction booklet on "how to eat a pomegranate" I got a good little chuckle out of it. I guess on the west coast you get spoiled with all the wonderful fruits that can be grown here.

[gumbo2176]

Yes they are second year plants. They were given to me last fall as a gift. I just kept them in their pots on my back patio all winter until it was time to plant my garden. I have read in several places that they never produce the first year. This is why I am now thinking that I want to go to the nursery and pick up a couple more to insure that I will have lots to harvest next year. You are so lucky to have 5! They are truly one of my favorite things to eat. Now, correct me if I'm understanding this wrong but is it true that they will produce buds for harvesting (or flowers) until early-mid summer then they will sort of shrivel up until the fall when they will produce again? Its funny to have so many questions about a plant when hundreds of years ago these things probably just grew wild and perfect all on their own. lol


Thanks for all your info. If you learn anything new please do share with me as I will do the same with you. I noticed that there aren't a lot of people on here growing them. They are missing out on one of lifes little treasures!

There is a lot of info on the net about how to divide your plants from shoots they are producing. It is not that difficult and you can use the plants you already have to continue the harvest for years to come.

They do like rich, well drained soil, but like it pretty moist, especially when producing chokes. The summer heat down my way makes the plant wilt a bit but they do come back when it cools. My plants only produced in the late spring since they like cool weather to form the chokes.

My best advice for more info is to do a search. There's tons of it out there but you have to weed through it since some of it is pretty basic stuff.

[gumbo2176]

[quote="Inailum"]
Usually when I prepare them I either steam or boil them and then add a little bit of olive oil and lemon juice. Of course if I'm feeling really unhealthy I will opt for the melted butter with a dash of salt and pepper, nummy! I have never had them stuffed but it sounds delicious! I saw a recipe online the other day I might try. The one with the seafood you told me about sounds absolutely heavenly! Oh my goodness, just talking about them makes my mouth water!



Here's how I stuff them for the family and they are very tasty and quite filling.


Ingredients:

4 good size artichokes
12 oz. Italian Bread Crumbs
6 oz. Grated Parmesan Cheese
1/2 cup Olive Oil
20 Cloves Garlic Minced Fine
1 medium Onion diced fine
4 slices of lemon

Preparation:

Lay the artichokes on their sides and cut the top 1/3 off with a sharp knife.
Use kitchen scissors to trim the sticky points off the top of the remaining leaves Using a spoon, dig the fine "Choke" material out of the center of the artichoke. Place the artichokes in a cool water bath to wash out any dirt. I'll place them upside down in my sink with cold water in it and shake them vigorously to get the excess water out. Set aside to drain upside down on paper towels.

In the meantime, put about 2 tbsp. of olive oil in a saute pan and cook the onion until wilted but not browned, add the garlic and continue cooking for about 2 minutes on low heat so it doesn't brown, but imparts the flavor of the garlic. Remove from heat and put this in a large bowl. Now add the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese and remainder of olive oil and mix well.
I like this mixture to be just moist enough that when I squeeze some in my hand, it holds together but will break up easily if I want it to. So you may want to add a little more olive oil to accomplish this.

Stuffing the Artichokes:

Take the raw artichokes and spread the leaves as much as you can without breaking it apart. Now hold the choke over the bowl with the mixture and put enough stuffing in each leaf to half fill the pocket. Start at the outside, bottom leaves and work upward to the center. Fill the centers where you removed the "Choke" material earlier with the spoon. Do all four chokes this way and then place a lemon slice on top of each Artichoke. Wrap them in aluminum foil to store in the fridge. They will stay good for about 5 days this way if you don't cook them right away.

Cooking:

I use a large wok as my steamer. I'll open the top of the foil to expose just the top of the choke and steam it for at least 1.5 hours. Check for water level to keep the steaming process going. The choke is done when you can easily pull leaves away from the choke.

To eat:

Pull the leaves------ using you teeth, scrape the stuffing and tender pulp from the leaf and enjoy.

Word of Caution:

Do NOT use any salt when cooking this dish. Between the seasoned bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese, you will have more than enough salt.

[DeborahL]

Does anyone know why some artichokes have a nice, big heart and some are all leaves and a small (disappointing) heart?
I just boil artichokes and dip the leaves in salty melted butter. When I get to the heart I want a big one to cut into chunks, dip and devour !

[Inailum]

@gumbo2176--

Sounds super yummy! Thank you! I might have to buy some artichokes and try it instead of waiting until my next harvest. Im excited!

[Inailum]

Does anyone know why some artichokes have a nice, big heart and some are all leaves and a small (disappointing) heart?
I just boil artichokes and dip the leaves in salty melted butter. When I get to the heart I want a big one to cut into chunks, dip and devour !

I have no idea. I have noticed that some are a little smaller but no huge difference. Are these artichokes that you have harvested or bought?

[DeborahL]

I've never grown them, I buy them. I have noticed that there seems to be two kinds-one is quite large, fully round with short rounded leaves, and it's the one with no heart.
The other is the smaller one with pointed thorny- tipped leaves, and has a big heart.

[TheWaterbug]

The ones I now have are getting pretty big and the plants are robust but no sign of a choke. If they do like the last time I planted them, I'll not see a choke until sometime next year about this time of the season after over-wintering.

Is there a recommended way to prune the plants to maximize edible flower production? I'm thinking of planting some of these, too, and I'm not really concerned about their ornamental value (although they are lovely). I just want more 'chokes to eat

[TheWaterbug]

A funny little story, I moved to a small town in Virginia for about 10 years and nobody there even knew what an artichoke was, nor did they know what a pomegranate was. lol About a year before I moved back to California I was in the grocery store there and I saw pomegranates!! Right next to them was an instruction booklet on "how to eat a pomegranate" I got a good little chuckle out of it. I guess on the west coast you get spoiled with all the wonderful fruits that can be grown here.

On a semi-related note, everyone thinks of California as "avocado country," as though we've been raised from birth knowing how to eat avocados.

A few years ago we were going through my Mom's decades-high stack of old Sunset magazines, and I found a full-page ad in a 1970s-vintage issue introducing the "alligator pear" to California as a novelty food. Hmmm. That name didn't stick for very long.

[gumbo2176]

[quote="TheWaterbug"
Is there a recommended way to prune the plants to maximize edible flower production? I'm thinking of planting some of these, too, and I'm not really concerned about their ornamental value (although they are lovely). I just want more 'chokes to eat [/quote]



You can divide the plant once it sets out new growth from the ground in the form of new shoots with their own root system to start a new plant. Similar to what a Bromiliad (sp) does when it sets out pups.

I know of no way to increase choke production other than keep them fairly moist, especially when hot, dry conditions occur and the occasional side dressing of compost or other preferred fertilizer.