Beware that your chokes need to be planted inside wire mesh baskets if you have gophers, it's a gopher delicacy, you are likely to lose all your plants the first season if they can get at 'em. Baskets do the trick it's not a big deal.
I've been trying to figure out when to actually harvest my plant. I've heard that when the plant begins to open its leaves but I still think that I'm harvesting a little too early. When the bud first appears, is there a general timeline that I can approximate from? Also, I'm harvesting one at a time, correct? I'm not taking two or three from the plant at once, right? Thanks
Harvest as the buds reach the best size. As the bud matures to blooming and the bracts open more, the "heart" will get smaller and the choke will grow. When the first bracts begin to open, the delicious heart is as large as it is going to get.
That depends on climate. Deep freezing in winter may kill the roots. If your area is warmer, once the buds have been harvested, cut the stalks at the ground. New growth will sprout from the roots.
Great video - Keep up the great work Santa Clara County!
Beware that your chokes need to be planted inside wire mesh baskets if you have gophers, it's a gopher delicacy, you are likely to lose all your plants the first season if they can get at 'em. Baskets do the trick it's not a big deal.
If my artichoke has already bloomed, should I leave it or does pruning it back stimulate more buds to form next season?
We deadhead the stems after harvest.
I've been trying to figure out when to actually harvest my plant. I've heard that when the plant begins to open its leaves but I still think that I'm harvesting a little too early. When the bud first appears, is there a general timeline that I can approximate from? Also, I'm harvesting one at a time, correct? I'm not taking two or three from the plant at once, right? Thanks
Harvest as the buds reach the best size. As the bud matures to blooming and the bracts open more, the "heart" will get smaller and the choke will grow. When the first bracts begin to open, the delicious heart is as large as it is going to get.
Will the plant only produce once and than die? Or do you cut it to the ground for the next stalk/buds grow?
That depends on climate. Deep freezing in winter may kill the roots. If your area is warmer, once the buds have been harvested, cut the stalks at the ground. New growth will sprout from the roots.
My plants are huge been in ground 1 year. No buds. These are volunteer plants.
Keep them in a sunny location and well watered. Once the temperature warms you may see buds start to form. Good luck!