Mine are outside taking advantage of the appropriate temperatures for vernalization. They look pretty similar to last week since the cold has slowed their growth. Supposed to be putting up the hoop house this week, so then I can have them out there. Stuff, yours really should be bigger, mine were started January 17 and 23. I think your container is maybe too shallow. Why not pick the best and give them their own pots? My experience is limited, but I feel like slowing their root growth early on can have bad consequences later. Mine are grown under lights in an unheated plant room without bottom heat (I generally use the bottom heat only for tomatoes and peppers). I guess the temperature in that room is usually near 60ð, give or take a bit. Looking back at your pictures, something is off, yours haven't grown but a tiny bit in 3 weeks. Cheers!

For future reference you can just tack these additional questions on to your previous posts and it bumps them right back up to the top. No need to start a new one each time. That way all of your questions and the answers given are tied together and we don't have to search out the previous questions or rehash previously given info. As to the mix, only soil-less potting mixes are recommended for containers no matter what you are growing in them. No regular garden soil, no Miracle Grow brand Garden Soil only MG Potting Mix, no potting soil and no regular top soil. All of those compact far too much, do not drain effectively in containers, and cause root root. You'll also find any number of recommendations for potting mixes over on the Container gardening forum here. As to eventually planting them in straight clay soil? I can't help you with that as I don't have clay. Can only say that from all I have read, those that have to deal with heavy clay soil don't seem to find it good for growing much of anything. The Soil Forum here has many discussions on how to amend clay soils so that they can be used for planting so you might want to do some reading over on that forum too. Dave PS: I am curious as to why you want to shade these since chokes are full sun lovers?

I love artichokes: Place them in any steaming apparatus or a pot with water and boil/steam for about an hour or until the leaves pull off easily and the flesh tastes tender. Then dip the leaves in butter and enjoy. Stuffed artichokes. For a few artichokes, chop the stem off so the base is flat, peal the stem like you would peal broccoli stems to get the stringy tough stuff off. Toss the stems in a food processor with a couple cloves of garlic, and a good handful of parsley (you can add more or less parsley to stretch the stuffing), salt and pepper and mince everything up, add some olive oil to make everything come together..kinda like making pesto. Then hold the base of the artichoke and bang the top against the countertop. Hit is good and hard a couple times, and the flower will open up some. Then stuff the stuffing inside the flower (usually a couple tablespoons or so per artichoke) Place the artichokes in a steamer/pan to boil/steam. Drizzle with olive oil and salt and boil/steam. These you can eat plain or with melted butter as above. Happy eating, Kristi

My garden plans this year are mainly to keep the weeds out of everything I've already planted. I have a few veggies to plant but mostly as a learning experience. If our family had to live off of what I grow we'd be in big trouble. lol I envy your raised beds. Are you using your own rock to make the sides? I made a small (3ft x 3 ft) raised bed last year and was surprised how many bags of compost it required. It would be cheaper to get it by the truckload but we don't have a truck. Compost sinks down too and then you have to get more. A person can spend quite a bit to save money. Some things just taste better home grown though. Watermelons are at the top of my family's list.