Globe Artichoke from seed

[Neilbaldwyn]

I've never had any success with raising globe artichokes from seed, I've been trying for the last three years, but today I've worked up to find that two of the sixteen seeds sown have germinated. I've got one of each of the two varieties sown but can for the life of my think what could be different in these two. Has anyone else tried/failed similarly or have I just been unlucky up until now?

[Thelma Sanders]

Mine germinated ok, but I read that they do need to be on heat (pad or propagator) - so that's what I did.

[Scarlet]

I'm growing some for my flower borders, I've never grown them before. I put in 4, the first one that came up the seed casing was still attached, a little to heavy handed and it's head came off! But two are up and the last one is just showing it's head

[Scarlet]

Yes, mine was also in the prop.

[Neilbaldwyn]

Thanks, mine are in a propogator too, I'll just keep my fingers crossed on the rest!

[Scarlet]

I've just double checked my list! I sowed 9 artichokes on the 31 January. Only 4 have germinated so far. There's 5 more to come through, got muddled as I've also sown a load of flowers and none have shown so far.
#note to self, label all pots!

[Chris11]

I'm going to try and grow the closely related Cardoon this year, for the bees
I doubt I'll try and eat the stems, although they're popular in some some parts of Europe.

[Scarlet]

I'm just growing the artichokes for my flower border
Neil, any luck with your seeds?

[sparrow100]

I got some to plantling stage, hardened them off and put them out on the plot. 3 days later all the slugs had left me were stumps...

[Neilbaldwyn]

I'm just growing the artichokes for my flower border
Neil, any luck with your seeds?

I had 5 seedlings as of yesterday, started to pot them up and promptly snapped the first one in two! Still got a few in the propogator so I'll keep my fingers crossed, if I can learn to be a little more delicate I should be left with some to plant out!

[Scarlet]

I snapped one trying to take the seed case off. I'm surprised they take so long to germinate, over 16 days for some of mine

[jacob]

Germinated and came on OK, but didn't make it through the first winter...

[Neilbaldwyn]

I got some to plantling stage, hardened them off and put them out on the plot. 3 days later all the slugs had left me were stumps...

Germinated and came on OK, but didn't make it through the first winter...

Oh crumbs! I'm starting to think they're doomed from the off!

I'll keep my eyes peeled for anyone splitting some down the allotment and see if i can get a bit of an established plant as well to boost my chances!

[TrixC]

I tried some from seed last year, just small pots left out on a sunny patio in May. 7/8 germinated, so no problems there. I planted two varieties, Green Globe and Violetta di Choggia. However I've been told that it's much better to plant bare root offsets as apparently they are quite variable from seed. I found it very difficult to find any UK companies selling plants that are not seed grown.

[plam]

First time growing these for me too. Mine have just started to germinate on the windowsill over a radiator, 12 of 35 germinated so far. My understanding is you sow a lot so you can ditch lots of them as they are so variable.