Re: artichokes
Liz Runciman wrote:
>
> Paul, when do you cut them back? Mine are in full sun,
> get water, produce lots of foliage but no artichokes.
> Also, any tips about propagating them?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Liz
>
> Liz Runciman
> 3a The Crescent
> Marryatville SA 5068
> Australia tel: 61 8 8332 9035
> fax 61 8 8331 9041
Dear Liz
Artichokes in our village are one of the chief pillars of the local
culture. You see gardens and sometimes fields full of them. Quite
attractive with their silvery foliage which persists the whole year
unless the temperature dips much below 22°F.
We don't grow them any more because I was unwilling to give them the
attention they need to produce edible heads. We haven't told the natives
this for fear of being expelled as undesirable aliens!
However I can give you a bief summary from the French Garden 'bible'
"Clause Jardin". First you have to get a good named variety and
propagate it vegetatively every three years by detaching side shoots,
with a heel and a few roots if possible, then planting them in pairs in
early spring in ground prepared the previous autumn by digging in 10 lbs
of well rotted compost and 4 oz. of 4:6:10 fertilizer per square yard.
The top half of the foliage on each shoot should be cut off and its
base trimmed. Each station shoud be one yard apart and surounded by a
hollow to allow frequent and copious watering. Some artichokes should be
obtained in the first summer but the main crops will occur in the second
and third years after which a new plantation should be made in fresh
ground. Once the offshoots begin to grow they should be gived a top
dressing of 3 oz. of 10:10:10 fertilizer per square yard repeating this
each spring. In regions with cold winters the rows should be covered
with several inches of dead leaves, preferably leaves that do not rot
easily such as plane tree leaves. The cover should be raked aside in
mild spells or there will be a great risk of rotting of the plants. Some
people tie the artichoke foliage together in autumn as well. You can see
why all this does not suite a 'plant it and leave it alone' gardener
like me.
--
Gordon Walker
Cat Bells
Chemin de Ferrals
11170 Villespy
France
