On Saturday Chris tactfully took me aside to break the news that half my precious crop of artichokes grown from seed seem to have mysteriously died ... after some discussion of foxes/birds etc. we decided someone must have accidentally weeded them out realised their mistake and tried to pop them back.
Today this email from Dasha "..I am sorry I have a bad news for you...I accidentally pulled out some of the artichokes from the central bed thinking that they were weeds (they looked like thistles). In fact Louis pulled some too because I told him that they were weeds and then we realised that they were kind of symetrical. So we quickly put them back but the damage is done..."
I actually think they might make it back, they have been through so much so far waiting indefinitely in pots for Danny and co. to finish their bed. Sadly they're quite tricky to grow from seed but we could try some more next spring. However, I have since read that it's in fact better to start them off by splitting older ones so we may want to try and find an allotment person with another type we can split from.
Sadly (for everyone else) this can only increase my manic labelling obsession, maybe I need a label each for them!!
Topics: [artichokes] [Harvest] [weeding]
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This is why I avoid communal gardening - absolutely convinced I'd dig up a prize specimen! On the artichoke front I have for the last few years grown them from seed every year. I've used the purple artichoke seeds from Franchi and they seem very reliable. The ones that I plant in one year usually produce a crop the following year (not that we eat them - I put them in vases around the house). Haven't planted any this year as we have building works in the garden but am hoping that that we will have a mild enough winter for the existing ones to survive. Hope yours rally!
Joan, August 25, 2009 22:35
This is the only casualty so far to be fair! That's interesting that you do them every year ... maybe we can sow some more next year and have a staggered batch.
Nina Pope, August 26, 2009 21:23
My worst ever was carefully germinating astrantia seeds (in and out of the fridge) and only managing to get a result with three seeds. I planted them out and forgot about them and then, of course, mistook them for weeds. Have been deeply scarred by the experience ever since! I think the issue about annual planting of artichokes revolves around how much space you have - I don't have the space for really huge things but of course that isn't a problem for you.
joan, August 30, 2009 19:17