Globe artichoke seedlings dead!
Anomander
Posts: 88
I ordered some globe artichoke seeds ('Gros vert de Laon') from France. I planted them in root trainer trays in early February and kept them on a tray in a north-facing window, above the radiator for warmth. I had spectacular germination results! I had read that artichoke seeds are temperamental, etc but I had soaked them for 24 hours in barely tepid water and sowed them in good, free-draining seed starter soil.
They grew very well and sprouted true leaves (not the pair of cotyledons that seeds start out with). They were merrily growing away and in anticipation of hardening them off, I made the fatal error last weekend of transplanting them into those long, narrow pots (artichokes apparently have long tap roots).
The first point to note is that they did not yet fill out the root trainers and it was quite tricky to move them to the new pots as I had foolishly soaked them before transplanting, assuming that the root trays were full of roots. I ended up with a gloopy soil that fell away, exposing some of the roots.
The second point to note is that the seedlings themselves often broke! I could not believe it!!!! I guess that they were a bit 'leggy' from lack of full light and so when they are tilted at an angle that puts strain on the main stem, they broke.
I used some compost that I had used to grow potatoes last year in sacks (had loads left over). I added lots of Miracle Grow bone meal. I pause to note here that the Miracle Grow bone meal was granular....as in like extruded pellets. I've never seen bone meal in this form. It also smells quite strongly, though it isn't expired....could I have used too much of the stuff?? I potted them all up and put them in a south-facing window on a tray near the radiator. Three were a bit stunted and so I put them in normal 5-inch pots outside as a survival test.
I noticed that two days later, there were little white spots of fungus dotted all over the top of the tops of the indoor pots! I suspect this is those granules of bone meal. This did not happen with the ones outside.
I only have about 3 or 4 from the indoor batch that are barely hanging on. I have put them all outside now in despair- sink or swim. 
The three dud's appear to be hanging on but I have read that as hierloom varieties do not come true to the parent, only the strongest seedlings should be planted on.
I had some seeds left over, stored in the fridge- they went in this morning. I ordered another packet and it was dispatched today. I am NOT giving in and I shall be more patient this time.
QUESTIONS:
Has anyone successfully germinated and planted out globe artichokes from seed?
Any transplanting tips?
Does anyone else use Miracle Grow bone meal? Hazards? Tips?
Posts
Planted some artichokes many years ago for decorative purpose. One is still going strong.
I don't have a greenhouse or cold frame so I wouldn't have done anything special. I would have planted them in pots outside late March and planted out when big enough. I do remember that I had plenty to give away!
I don't think they need particularly rich soil. I just chuck a handful of general fertiliser under it once a year.
Hi there,
I have grown Artichokes from seed here without problem.
I think because I did not know they were fussy.
I put them in seed mix in my greenhouse and left them to it, some were even outside in pots.
They have grown okay in the garden (I am from NZ where they grew large quickly), but they definitely need to be protected from cold over winter.
I put them as seeds into an already large pot. I did not move them into something else till they were probably about 8-10cm.
I hope that helps. Maybe they just need more light.
I tried growing globe artichokes from seed but it wasn't a success. The plants never really got going. So with that failure in mind.....
Its too early to be putting seedlings outside so bring them indoors and try to keep them in a fairly neutral spot, a bit Goldilocks......not too hot and not too cold, and with a reasonable amount of light so that they don't rush away and get tall and weak. They can go out into a greenhouse or cold frame as they get bigger but only in the daytime until the temperature rises enough to allow you outside in shorts and t-shirt. If its too cold for you, then its too cold for baby plants. Don't feed them; it will only encourage the things. If you grow them in John Innes seed compost and then transplant to JI No.1 that should be sufficient for their needs for a few weeks.
Good luck. They should look fabulous when they are towering over the other plants.
Thank you very much! Good point Kiwimedic- when the new ones arrive, I'll just put them straight away into the larger pots, WITHOUT the Grow More.
I was so excited by the germination rate, I may have been a little over-enthusiastic there Ceres. No more Grow More on seedlings but I sadly do not have a cold frame, greenhouse or anywhere that is very light. I see that by the end of March it is expected to be around 16 degrees (one can wish!)....by then, I suspect they will be OK outdoors but I may just have started too early.
I'm not an expert but I think that if you use fertiliser on seedlings you get lush foliage at the expense of root development. Put your seeds in individual pots in a sunny spot. Check that they have a good root system before you plant them out. When the plants are mature, they will be frost hardy.
Its okay to put things outside without the protection of a greenhouse or cold frame providing they are in a sheltered spot.
Well that is the thing B3- I thought that bone meal is generally safe to use as it doesn't burn plant roots AND it is high in phosphorous (which creates better roots) and not nitrogen (which boosts foliage). It was for that reason that I impregnated the compost with so much bone meal- I was working on the roots.
I always wonder how the garden centre stuff looks so healthy and perfect and I also read that it was because they fed the young plants a very diluted solution that they gradually strengthened. I thought bone meal, being slow release, was a fairly safe bet but this Grow More stuff.... I'll re-read the bag.
Thank you for the tip Ceres- I assume that you mean sheltered from wind? If that is the case then I have that covered. The root trainers have a plastic dome over them. Once I have germination this time, I will put them outside in a sheltered place where they can receive more sun and 'grow hard', instead of leggy and delicate. The temperature should be up by then anyway but this is Britain and frankly, they better get used to the weather, keep calm and GROW ON!