Artichokes – Season 2
Monday | 10 May 2010
Season number two of artichoke production is underway. Some of you may remember we seeded about 70 plants last year, mostly the very common Globe artichokes. Working with Charlene at New Sammy’s, we learned the desirable characteristics of baby chokes, and as importantly, we learned a lot about the space in which we planted this first crop. Specifically, we saw exactly where the cooler morning temperatures are evident in the row. Over a season, the cumulative effect of just a few degrees is important. Second, we learned how much water they like and what the harvest window is for picking. Perhaps what was best though is we confirmed our theory that inter-planting with asparagus is optimal – the late season asparagus ferns protect the chokes from the harsh dry winds of the summer afternoons.
Using our new knowledge, we selected two different varieties to test this year. Viotletta is a small, Italian, purple variety that is well-suited to our warm summer climate. Second we chose Imperial Star, a smaller, green variety. As of now, they are just seedlings that have been moved from the greenhouse (laundry room) to the nursery beds. We expect to plant in June!
– Barbara Steele
