Globe artichoke query

[jackyspratty]

Hello!
Last year we planted globe artichokes, 3at the lotty. I removed buds as specified and then covered the plants with straw over the winter. The plants are now slimey and gooey! Will they come back? Or has the extreme weather knackered them for good?

Cheers me dears

[Kristen]

Mine also go pretty horrible during the winter. There is a good chance they will come back I reckon.

[jackyspratty]

Was at a meeting today and in the garden wee globes, not a slimey mess like mine, but actualy looked like mini globe leaves. I was worried that maybe mine werent protected enough over winter? or whether I should have cut them down?

[Kristen]

Mine weren't / aren't protected at all (not that I'm recommending that!) You may have had it colder, or a different variety (I seem to remember reading that there are French varieties preferred for their Flavour which are less hardy - something in a Christo Lloyd book from memory - I'll trog upstairs and see if I can find it in a moment).

[Patchninja]

I've never grown them because we are literally swamped by the things in the summer but I have read that they like it hear because there aren't huge temperature differences where they grow - they don't like it either very cold or very hot. Anyone coming to grapestock via Roscoff will get en eyeful.
Also, they are VERY hungry and use a lot of potassium.

[Creemteez]

Mine did the same last year. One minute they were all green leaves and the next a heap of goo. I really thought they were done for, but they all came back. The same thing happened this year, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my luck has held!

[Kristen]

Lloyd says that "Vert de Laon" (heads "like an explosion" with outward pointing bracts) is hardier than "Camus de Bretagne" (heads "like a football" with incurving bracts) - and that those are the only two that one should grow!

He also says that he thinks that using straw on heavy soil may encourage slugs and rotting, and if I read it correctly that it is better to do without on heavy soil.

And lastly that he cut down the stems immediately after cropping so that the new leaves matured more before the winter set in.

[jackyspratty]

Thanks guys. Mine were Imperial star from MoreVeg grown from seed last year. Looks like I shall jsut keep me fingers crossed then!!

Thanks x

[binley100]

Haven't a clue what mine is it was very kindly given by another grape so I'm keeping my fingers crossed as I would hate to lose it........

[jackyspratty]

Me too! Cant wait to eat some after cutting off the small buds this year! UI covered mine with straw to protect from worst of weather but never grown hem before so Im a complete novice at this!

[Jono]

Mine did this before Christmas, but are already showing signs of coming back. I wouldn't worry too much, they're pretty hardy.

If you ever dig one up though, watch out. The roots are a right bugger; I broke a spade and a fork in one morning!