globe artichoke question

[beach chick]

I have 2 globe arti plants, put in last year. didnt do much except have lovely big leaves last year. I thought you were meant to cut them down in the autumn, but didnt have the heart. then one collapsed, so I cut it back.

the one I DIDNT cut back now has 3 lovely artis on it, while the other looks like a dwarf in comparison (although new foliage this year, tis still pretty small).

the one with the artis - can I harvest them from an 'old' plant? and if so when? 1 is between tennis and football size, and the other 2 a bit bigger than a tennis ball. should I let the big one flower, and eat the other 2? help!!

[Paulottie]

Keep cutting and eating them more will come if you don't let flowers open. other plant will catch up. Enjoy...good with melted butter and lemmon hot; or vinagrette when cold. after 3-4 years take sideshoots from the best plant and they in turn will give you harvest in second year.