Imperial star globe artichoke advice please

[jackyspratty]

Recently bought some seeds from more veg. Didnt realise it was an annual! Mistankenly thought I was buying a perrenniall!
After a search have read up on vernalisation of the seed. and the seeds need aboout 2 weeks in the fridge before sowing. Is it vital that this is done in a jar of wet sand (dont have any!) or can the packet just be put ibn the fridge?

Also just got some rootrainers (yipee!) could I sow these in them do you think?
Confused now!

[Paulottie]

It isn't an annual. Same as any other artichoke..

Hey ho...perhaps just sow two to a 3" pot and put pot in the fridge then out to the propagator/windowsill...I've never bothered putting them in the fridge before and had perfectly good germination rates...wouldn't waste a rootrainer on em either.


Saw VGN sold 'Imperial star' but no mention of above
Artichoke Plant 'Imperial Star'

[smallblueplanet]

Search the forum, there was a big thread about globe artis last year (?) which included posts about Imperial Star - which is grown as an annual in the States (cos of the climate) but is a perennial.

[jackyspratty]

Thanks guys. I got confused by searchin the forum! The thread mentioned is where I got the idea of it being an annual from! Thanks for unravelling my knotted brain!

Bit releived that the cooling period in sand isnt necessarily needed, so might just go ahead and see if i can germinate them?

Wish me luck! Only have a few seeds from moreveg....

[Incy]

I had a 100% germination rate from my globe artichokes last year and all I did was pop a seed per 3" pot in an unheated propagator....