green globe artichoke seedlings

[helly]

Hello, I'm having ago at growing green globe artichokes from seed. I manage to get them to germinate and now they are at the stage where a 2nd leave has formed... THEN, things go wrong, the 1st leaf droops then the stem begins to rot. I have them in multipurpose compost mixed with sharp sand, and only water when touch dry . Any help would be good
cheers Helen

[sewer rat]

Hello, I'm having ago at growing green globe artichokes from seed. I manage to get them to germinate and now they are at the stage where a 2nd leave has formed... THEN, things go wrong, the 1st leaf droops then the stem begins to rot. I have them in multipurpose compost mixed with sharp sand, and only water when touch dry . Any help would be good
cheers Helen

Sound like damping off to me Helly. When you sow them, water the compost from the bottom before sowing until it changes colour, then remove it from the water trough and let it drain. Sow the seed and don't water again for a bit. If the compost looks too dry, water again from the bottom -not with a watering can from the top.. You might want to visit your local garden centre and purchase a tin of Cheshunt Compound ( a copper sulphate powder) and follow the instructions on the tin. It will help prevent damping off. Hope this helps

[burnie]

They do like the heat,when I was in Englandshire I waited till the warmer months to get them going and they flowered the following year,yes flowered,I grew them for the flowers rather than the veg.

[janeyo]

I stared mine off in the house then when they got to the proper leaf stage I moved them to the mini-greenhouse. The are doing ok, and I only water when they are dry. With tap water not water butt water.

[Mcbee]

They do like the heat,when I was in Englandshire I waited till the warmer months to get them going and they flowered the following year,yes flowered,I grew them for the flowers rather than the veg.

I grow them for flowers as well - the bees and butterflies love them!

[helly]

Thanks for the advice, managed to repot some and watering from the bottom seems to have helped.
cheers

[tootles]

Mine are just poking their little leafy heads out now. They are in the cold frame, I shall be sure no to let them get too wet. Thanks.