Artichokes!

oldtractor

Jerusalem artichoke,brussel sprout and baked bean curry. light the blue touch paper and run for cover.

rosie383

Yum!

splodger_seedswapper

rosie383 wrote: »

I have 2 beautiful and very big globe artichokes growing in my garden. They have about 6 small globes growing on them, but I don't know what to do with them. I ask because I noticed on the allotment that someone who grows them, seems to have removed the leaves from around the globes. I can't find the person to ask, as they never seem to be there when I am.
Does anyone know if I need to do this, and if so, why?

to get the most out of globe artichokes - there are several things that should / could be done - firstly it is "advised" to allow only 6 heads to form below / from the king head (the prominent terminal bud / head)
and to remove the rest when they first bud

you harvest when the heads are of a good size (but still green and tight) - usually from july onwards - once the flower head turns colour and / or scales open - they become inedible.

when harvesting - cut the king head off first - you can usually cut the stem back at the same time - cut other heads as and when required after that

in the winter the leaves will turn yellow - you can cut the main stems down to ground level then - just leave any offsets (which you can lift / divide in spring if you wish)

just another point many people mix up globe artichoke plants with cardoons - they are similar, but not the same

pinkcandyflossprincess

artichokes are very common in greek recipes
heres one to try http://www.allcorfu.com/in-recipes-artichoke.html

rosie383

SS Thanks for that. I don't know what the other allotmenteer was doing with theirs as my heads are surrounded by lots of lovely pale green feathery foliage and theirs are just standing up proud from the leaves.

Pink Thanks for the recipe link. We spend our holidays in Algeria each year and in the summer they eat a lot of artichokes. Compared to the price here (£1 for one:eek:), you can buy a huge bag for pennies over there.
They actually use the stems of the leaves in stews too as far as I remember. Steamed until tender, but still a bit stringy. Nothing goes to waste there and it is so wonderful to eat only food that is in season.

rosie383

I think my artichokes have got black fly or ants or something. I'm a bit confused as just below each globe is a 'nursery' of eggs. They look like black fly eggs, but there are ants running all over them. Any idea what I can do please?

lostinrates

macma wrote: »

Globe artichokes grow huge plants for ,in my opinion, little return but if you like 'em have a go ,I don't know much about them sorry.

They make amazing border plants...personally, I've grown them in the border rather veg patch because they give structure and sculptural form there, and don't have the ''waste'' of valuable growing space in veg patch.

Mine dies over winter though, after lasting the winter before which for us was tougher. They were 9 years old though.

earthlysparky

rosie383 wrote: »

I think my artichokes have got black fly or ants or something. I'm a bit confused as just below each globe is a 'nursery' of eggs. They look like black fly eggs, but there are ants running all over them. Any idea what I can do please?

That'll be aphids. The ants farm them :mad:

rosie383

earthlysparky wrote: »

That'll be aphids. The ants farm them :mad:

Really:eek:? Ok, now I understand. I made up some soapy spray and went and sprayed them liberally. Hopefully that'll kill them/ make them slide off, whatever it's meant to do!

rosie383

Okay. I have sprayed my artichokes with soapy spray, but the globes and stems are covered with blackfly and eggs now. Do I need to spray every day? Absolutely soak them?
BTW, I just made up a spray bottle with a little washing up liquid and water. Do I add anything else?