Tag Archives: artichoke

Sowing and planting this week

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I have been a bit lazy in updating the blog with the latest sowing and planting. Over the last few weeks, sowing has been a bit neglected too, but there has been a lot to plant out. We did manage to sow another three lengths of gutter with peas, the reliable Hurst Greenshaft and the magnificent mangetout Carouby de Maussane, and more pots of broad bean Masterpiece Green Longpod. These are ready to plant out now, so will be one of the first tasks to attend to at the weekend. Continue reading →

Potting on the globe artichokes

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We have four young seedlings of globe artichoke Violet de Provence that we sowed a few weeks ago. They are in the usual sort of 3.5 inch plant pots that, for most crops, would serve well for several more weeks. Artichokes, though, are deep rooted. Importantly, they develop a deep taproot, and do so rather quickly. If left in these small pots for long, the taproot may become wound around the pot and they may not then establish well once planted out. Continue reading →

Sowing this week

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There are all sorts of things that can be sown in February, including brassicas of various kinds, broad beans, hardy lettuces, and artichokes. Many seeds will germinate at temperatures of 5°C and above. Cold, wet soil, though, is not the place to do it. With some undercover space, the temperature will be better, so germination markedly improved in both reliability and speed, and the compost can be kept at a more suitable moisture level, so that seed or seedlings do not sit in the soil and rot before they can get started properly. Continue reading →

Jerusalem artichoke Violet de Rennes

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Last spring, 16 April according to my notes, my dad and I planted ten tubers of Jerusalem artichoke Violet de Rennes in the perennial bed, alongside the horseradish and rhubarb. The bed had been well dug, weeds removed as best we could, and the soil improved with horse manure and composted green waste. I cannot recall whether we also added a little fish, blood, and bone, but it is quite possible. After this preparation, nothing more was done. We left them to their own devices. We did not even water them through the dry periods. They grew to a height of eight feet or more, developing hefty stems and healthy foliage, but they did not flower as we were anticipating. Continue reading →