Strange Artichoke

[Bramleyapple]

Hi Everyone,
I'm hoping someone can identify this artichoke for me - I planted a globe artichoke and this is what the flower heads looked like (I've since let them flower as they were small and spiky). I've been unable to find this variety online and wonder what's gone wrong - most disappointed not have artichokes to eat this summer

[alex-adam]

Where did you get the artichoke from? was it from seed or an offset?

Globe artichokes are notoriously variable from seed. I have one plant exactly like yours whch I grew from a seed collected in Greece. The globes are small and very prickley, but despite that they are good eating.

Of course your 'artichoke' may be a Cardoon !

a-a

[taff]

Think you're right alex...
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE GARDEN? - AUGUST 2003 a quarter of the way down...
but never fear...it's still edible...
Growing Cardoons | Miles Collins

[Bramleyapple]

Thank you alex-adam and taff.

I bought the artichoke at Homebase, I'm trying to remember what it looked like - it was some kind of root and supposed to be a globe artichoke.

Very useful links, taff - yes, that definitely is a picture of my 'artichoke'! The flowers were very pretty.