
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!applestar wrote: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 wrote: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 wrote: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]https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y64/inailum/Garden/DSC03648.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y64/inailum/Garden/DSC03646.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y64/inailum/Garden/DSC03649.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y64/inailum/Garden/DSC03647.jpg[/i
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Inailum wrote: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 wrote: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.
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. lolgumbo2176 wrote: 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 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! lolapplestar wrote:You are very welcome!
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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.
Inailum wrote:gumbo2176 wrote:
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!
DeborahL wrote: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 !
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 eatgumbo2176 wrote: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.
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.Inailum wrote: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.