I have planted 2 of these and they are thriving. They’re about a metre across and very healthy.
I imagine they wil punch out a flower/flowers at some point, but i don’t know when.
Nor do i know when to harvest or what to do with it.
When do they flower?
When do i harvest the flower?
What do they taste like?
How are they prepared?
Sure, i could google this stuff, but i’d like to hear from you lot too because yuz are such a brilliant lot….

Ditto, Longy. I have 3 plants about that size. No idea when to expect the flower heads. What I have found out though, is that you can cook and eat the leaf stems. They are called Cardoons, and recipes may be found if you Google that. I haven’t braved that one yet!
I’ll be interested in any answers you get too.

What I have found out though, is that you can cook and eat the leaf stems. They are called Cardoons,
+++++++++++
No i’m thinking a cardoon is a similar plant, which does not have an edible flower, but you eat the leaf stems. Unsure if you can eat the stems of the globe artichoke as a vegetable as well, though they are purported to be used to make an extract which is good for stimulating digestion.
The plot thickens.

you want to pick them before the flowers open

How to Cook and Eat an Artichoke

bluegreen said:

you want to pick them before the flowers open

How to Cook and Eat an Artichoke

Hmm. There you go. You suck the guts out of the leaves on the globe.

Longy said:

bluegreen said:

you want to pick them before the flowers open

How to Cook and Eat an Artichoke

Hmm. There you go. You suck the guts out of the leaves on the globe.

it’s something you need to make time for – but worth it :D

it’s something you need to make time for – but worth it :D

++++
So what do they taste like Beej?

Longy said:

it’s something you need to make time for – but worth it :D

++++
So what do they taste like Beej?

ummmm, artichokes?

ummmm, artichokes?
++++++++++++++++
Tosser ;-)

Longy said:

ummmm, artichokes?
++++++++++++++++
Tosser ;-)

sorry, I don’t know what to compare the taste to. Asparagus maybe, but not quite. They are nice though.

bluegreen said:

Longy said:

ummmm, artichokes?
++++++++++++++++
Tosser ;-)

sorry, I don’t know what to compare the taste to. Asparagus maybe, but not quite. They are nice though.

LOL. Yeah i figured.
I wondered if they were similar to asparagus.
Can’t wait to try one actualy.
Gees they are an impressive plant in their own right.
I’m trying to find some more seedlings. Gonna plant them between some bamboo i just planted.

Longy said:

bluegreen said:

Longy said:

ummmm, artichokes?
++++++++++++++++
Tosser ;-)

sorry, I don’t know what to compare the taste to. Asparagus maybe, but not quite. They are nice though.

LOL. Yeah i figured.
I wondered if they were similar to asparagus.
Can’t wait to try one actualy.
Gees they are an impressive plant in their own right.
I’m trying to find some more seedlings. Gonna plant them between some bamboo i just planted.

you will be able to divide them next season, they grow pups. They look good as an ornamental plant too, and if you allow the flower to open it looks great too and attracts lots of bees.

Artichokes in flower with bees. (Taken at River Cottage Headquarters, Dorset England.)

Nice flowers, but i prefer food to flowers.
There is one pup already on one plant.
When can i steal it?
How long do plants last?

Longy said:

Nice flowers, but i prefer food to flowers.
There is one pup already on one plant.
When can i steal it?
How long do plants last?

not until next spring. the plant will go sort of dormant in winter, then when new growth starts divide it then.

Longy said:

bluegreen said:

you want to pick them before the flowers open

How to Cook and Eat an Artichoke

Hmm. There you go. You suck the guts out of the leaves on the globe.

sounds like little reward for maximum effort?

pain master said:

Longy said:

bluegreen said:

you want to pick them before the flowers open

How to Cook and Eat an Artichoke

Hmm. There you go. You suck the guts out of the leaves on the globe.

sounds like little reward for maximum effort?

but then you get to the heart of the artichoke…

bluegreen said:

pain master said:

Longy said:

Hmm. There you go. You suck the guts out of the leaves on the globe.

sounds like little reward for maximum effort?

but then you get to the heart of the artichoke…

Maybe maximum work for a small harvest but they are indeed a nice munch. The problem with the is that most people don’t have enough backyard to grow globe artichokes. Considering that one plant will lock up more than a cubic metre of your garden yet only yield a few flower buds.