Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Am I killing these artichokes?

suzannegannonsuzannegannon Posts: 8
in Problem solving
We planted 4 globe artichokes in large containers this year and all of them, bar one, seemed to be thriving, with two of them even developing fruit. Then over the last few weeks, the leaves on three of them started turning black and brittle. We have ants around where the containers are, so I've been treating them as if it's an aphid infestation. But really I have no idea what the issue is. The globe on one shrivelled up, but another one has subsequently started growing one, and the plant that was always the weakest (and which I thought was dead) seems to be sending up another new shoot. Any suggestions as to what's going on and how I can help them survive? (I've no experience growing artichokes before this btw.)


«1

Posts

  • suzannegannonsuzannegannon Posts: 8
    edited August 2020
    Here is the most healthy one. 


  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    The presence of ants indicates the compost is too dry.  You need to water them thoroughly and stand them in a saucer or an old kiddies' paddling pool or some such while they soak up the water because if the compost is as dry as I suspect the water will just run thru and do no good at all.

    If the plants recover, try and plant them out in the ground in a sunny position in well-drained soil so they don't sit in winter wet.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/vegetables/globe-artichokes#:~:text=Globe%20artichokes%20(Cynara%20scolymus)%20are,to%20cook%20and%20are%20delicious! for more info
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • suzannegannonsuzannegannon Posts: 8
    Thank you for your help, but the ants aren't in the compost, but on the pavement nearby, which led me to think there were aphids they might be harvesting. The compost does not feel dry and they have been watered regularly. They are in containers because we have no ground space to plant them in, so that's not going to be an option. 
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    They have deep tap roots and will tolerate most conditions in the ground.
    Mine, which I grow as an ornamental ( couldn't be faffed with eating one but I love the flowers)is over twenty years old and has survived severe frost , severe heat and ant farms. You can't grow them successfully long-term in a pot.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I think if you tipped your plants out of the containers you would find some huge ants nests in the bottom. 
    Your plants definitely look as if they are dying of drought, they should be around 8ft tall with several globes. They will hate growing in such small containers. I have half a dozen plants in my garden which like the above, survive heat, drought and freezing conditions. I never protect mine so they are obviously very strong.
    If you have no garden space it might be worth carrying on trying to grow yours in the containers but be prepared for them to curl up and move on to plant heaven.
    You might be able to prove us all wrong. Good luck.
  • suzannegannonsuzannegannon Posts: 8
    should they really be 8ft tall with several globes if I just planted them this year? The containers are 100 litres btw
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Given enough water, yes.  Ours, in the ground, die back my mid to late July after producing masses of flower heads.   We then cut them back to the ground and they start all over again and get very big.  

    I've actually concluded this year hat the whole prepping and boiling palaver is far too much faff for the quantity of edible bits and the flavour delivered so will be moving them this autumn to a drier gravel garden where they can get as big as they like and keep their flowers for the entertainment and nourishment of birds and pollinators.

    I'll use their space in the veg plot for something more tasty and productive.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Our globes are in the ground and have produce globes for 5 years now. We love them as they develop at different times. They do die back a bit in the autumn but already one offshoot has decided it wants to carry on growing and tonight we have 2 superb size globes for starters. They are great in that you can eat them slowly and dipping in butter and garlic from your garden is fabulous.
    Don't think they like being in a pot but the best one does look very healthy size but only one.
    The offshoots continue to develop throughout the winter and are ready when the warmer weather comes to produce globes.
    A bit like marmite you either love them or loath them.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    We like, but not enough to get thru the 40 odd heads produced this year.   Thanks to climate change we have periods of heat and drought which are irregular but relentless so three of the plants will be moved to be decorative and architectural and we may, occasionally indulge ourselves.

    I'm planning to mulch their current bed with loads of good stuff, lay a porous seep hose and plant soft fruits which are fiendishly expensive to buy.   Globe artichokes are cheap.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    £1.50 each last year in a local supermarket here.
Sign In or Register to comment.