Which of you frightened my globe artichokes? Own up!
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter
OK then, who frightened my globe artichokes? I transplanted some fairly established plants last week from my old to my new allotments. At first, they looked fine, the leaves keeping their normal green colour. I went to have a look at them today and they had completely flopped over. They don't appear to be dead, but nor do they look particularly happy, either. The soil is very good and they are among friends (!), so what is happening?
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Chantal
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Could it be the shock of transplanting? If they were well established the leaves would have looked great to start with but you may find that these leaves will now die making way for new growth. What does the growing point look like?
I've had this happen to many plants I've moved in my garden (ornamentals) and the majority make it; they just look half dead for a few weeks. At least with this rain they'll be well watered.
I've had this happen to many plants I've moved in my garden (ornamentals) and the majority make it; they just look half dead for a few weeks. At least with this rain they'll be well watered.
Chantal
I know this corner of the earth, it smiles for me...
I know this corner of the earth, it smiles for me...
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Colin_M
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As well as Chantal's suggestion, how cold has it been?
I grew Globe Artichokes for several years and followed advice I'd read in many places about protecting them from frost over winter. You may not have had a problem with cold this year, but I always covered mine in fleece over winter.
On that basis, transplanting them even in a mild February may have been ambitious.
Hope you enjoy yours. Though I love the artichoke heads, I eventually got rid of my plants because of the way that they hogged one part of my small'ish allotment.
Whilst you wouldn't normally let them produce full flowers, the end result is quite attractive and has an amazing honey-like scent:
Colin
More pictures here:
http://www.pbase.com/cmalsingh/garden
I grew Globe Artichokes for several years and followed advice I'd read in many places about protecting them from frost over winter. You may not have had a problem with cold this year, but I always covered mine in fleece over winter.
On that basis, transplanting them even in a mild February may have been ambitious.
Hope you enjoy yours. Though I love the artichoke heads, I eventually got rid of my plants because of the way that they hogged one part of my small'ish allotment.
Whilst you wouldn't normally let them produce full flowers, the end result is quite attractive and has an amazing honey-like scent:
Colin
More pictures here:
http://www.pbase.com/cmalsingh/garden
Well, it has been several days and, while the leaves still look drap, the plants clearly don't appear to be dying -famous last words! By the way, they usually produce edible heads in April in this part of Kent, altough I do remember reading a KG article some time ago suggesting that July is the normal month for harvesting. Can anybody square that circle?
Swipe me! The artichoke leaves in question, after having drooped for the best part of a week, started standing up proud again. Then, last night, following very cold air, fell over once again, but don't look dead or frost burned. It must be the cold, but I have never seen them do this before. Interestingly, a young plant that I had been cultivating in a flower pot appears to have been completely unaffected.
