Conflicting globe artichoke advice

[noisycrows]

Hello, I have a couple of questions regarding artichokes, and the info I've found online is sometimes conflicting and/or vague. I grew some artichokes last year and had a small harvest this year.

Firstly, do I cut them back for winter, and if so, when and how short? I don't think I did last year but they weren't very big, I just covered them in fleece. Some people say to completely cut them down to ground level and mulch, others say to leave about a foot above ground.

And secondly, the plants have small offshoot plants growing which I'd like to divide and plant. Do I do this soon, or wait till spring? And should they be cut right down too?

Or if anyone can point me to a good growing guide that explains all this would be helpful. Thanks for any help!

[veggiechicken]

Hello Noisycrows and welcome to the Grapevine!
There is a GYO Guide to Artichokes at Growing Artichokes | How To Grow | Grow Your Own that should help you. I don't grow them myself so can't offer any advice. I'm sure someone will be along in a minute who can!

[Thelma Sanders]

Divide off the side-shoots in Spring once it is warming up a bit. You may need to prop them up with sticks until they've rooted, as they tend to fall over.

I don't know where you are gardening (no location in your profile ) but here in the SE I just leave them to get on with it. I don't cut them back, I think the leaves may give a little protection, but they do get sluggy, so I sprinkle some pellets around, and that's it.

I give them a feed with FB&B when the plants start growing again.

[bario1]

I've grown them for the first time this year. I didn't harvest any, just left them to get on with it. I don't know if they'll survive the winter this far north, but I'm going to cut them back to ground level, cover with straw, and put a plastic cloche tunnel over them to keep the rain off.

[burnie]

My Dad grew them in Leicestershire, mainly for the blooms, he just removed the flower stalk around this time of year and fed them in spring with 6x.

[1Bee]

There's a plot with some on up here, so they must be reasonably hardy. I can't see that they do anything particular with them, but I'll check next time!

[sparrow100]

I don't know where you are, but here in SW London I leave mine to it, like Thelma and feed them with 2-3 inches of rotted muck and a handful of chicken pellets nowish and again in March when they pop up again. I haven't had to divide mine yet, but I get a spring and autumn flush of flower heads from each plant.

[noisycrows]

Wow, you lot are quick! Thanks for the help everyone, I wasn't expecting so many replies so quickly. I forgot to say I'm between Derby and Nottingham.

I'm thinking then that I will just remove the dying leaves and a couple of the main stalks that are looking a bit sorry for themselves and just leave them to it, as the leaves at the bottom are looking fine. Then if it gets really frosty I'll put some fleece on them. I'll divide and move the offshoots in spring.

Thanks for your help!

[Finley]

I've been growing artichokes for a couple of years (I'm both new and rubbish, so it's luck not skill). I grow from seed, lots of seed as some turn magically into spiky hard-to-pick-let-alone-eat nonsense but some are excellent. Mainly green globe. Anyway I cut them back in autumn, then let the new growth come up next to it. I divide with a sharp knife or spade in late summer when you can clearly see the second plant coming and it looks strong (this is very scientific). I bung on some chicken manure pellets now and then and once they're cut back I lay the cut bits around the plant as mulch. An allotment neighbour swears by feathers and seaweed as mulch, and her artichokes are exceptional! Mainly I leave them alone and they seem pretty hardy. Good luck!