Artichoke 'Violetto di Chioggia'

[benboo]

Has anyone tried growing this, or any similar plants? I am interested in this one because it claims to have more cold tolerance than other artichoke varieties. This might have some potential in my climate, and I could select plants for cold-hardiness. If anyone here doesn't have seeds, I can always order online.

Or if anyone has an unusually hardy artichoke, let me know!

[johno]

I've tried artichokes several times - even had some survive the winters (zone 6 back then, as of this year officially zone 7) - but ultimately never got a harvest. But I don't coddle my plants much... I have had good luck with cardoon. The stems are edible enough and they are zero maintenance, unless you blanch the stems like celery.

[bertiefox]

I've grown this several times in the last couple of years, especially with the aim of getting seed grown plants for an autumn harvest. However, I've found here (north central France) that they don't grow large enough to produce any buds in the first year and in our last few winters the plants have died in the winter. My 'Breton' type plants, given to me by a neighbour, DO survive the winter though. So I wouldn't recommend Chioggia as winter hardy in a cold area unless you cover the crowns with straw or some other protection.

[benboo]

Does anyone know what the most cold tolerant variety is? If I grow them this year, I might overwinter some indoors, but would like to have plants outside that could survive with protection.

[raymondo]

Both Northern Star and Emerald are said to be hardy to at least -17°C (about 2°F) but that's probably not hardy enough.

[benboo]

This winter was pathetic. It has been one of the warmest winters in a few years. too bad I didn't try growing them last summer.

[12540dumont]

I grow both the perennial type and annual type artichokes.

I have found that in my climate, I'm in coastal California, about 30 miles from Castroville, the artichoke capital of the world. They do NOT get frost in Castroville. I do. However, it is 65 degrees today and I'm starting more artichokes.

The annual type like Imperial Star, do great if you have frost. Violetto overwinters and re-sprouts where every it likes in my garden. Here's one of the looneys on the path. I'll have to dig it up and move it. From my experience with these. The first year, they do not make chokes, apparently they need the vernalization period to make chokes.
The second year they make abundant mini chokes and there after for 5 or 6 years.

This year I'm planting a globe by Alan Kapuler, they're not in the catalog, but you can write and ask. He's selected them for Oregon and size, so I suspect they are more cold hardy. Also, I'm planting di Romagna & Romanesco. If I'm very very very lucky, a nice UK gardener is going to send me so French artichoke, Camus de Bretagne.

Hey, my spouse says they are just thistles with an attitude. If you can grow thistles, you can grow pampered thistles.

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[benboo]

I have seeds for di Romagna. The package has a ton of seeds, so I hope at least one or two have a higher tolerance for this climate.