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!

So some part of the leaf can be eaten, but only next to where the heart is. How much leaf exposed is the right tenderness to be edible? About a half inch? Just trying to guess where to cut. Is there a rule of thumb to go by to check on the leaf to show at what length to cut? Will it be softer than the rest of the leaf? I think they will grow well in my soil, so instead of milk thistle as a fence, I may have a fence of globe artichokes. I bought japanese barberry seeds for this too, but I wonder which would be worth more as food, the artichokes or the barberry berries? The artichokes don't flower until 2 to 4 years. The heart itself is so small, it hardly looks worthy of the wait. Deer will not eat thistle, so they won't eat artichoke, I assume. I've got deer problems worse this year than last, usually it's bunnies. I've heard artichokes are hard to kill and produce a lot, plus the size of the bush may be 6 feet? I've read about 4, but some say 6. I'm aiming for a non hybrid 6 feet tall and wide. Thanks for the info I do appreciate it.

I wish I did! Just added this to my wish list too. Found some cool growing info on them though just now :) Here is a link that might be useful: Specialty Crop Profile: Globe Artichoke

Scott, I've had some die off and also some pull through and grow into the next year, but this year seems the exception due to the oppressive heat we've been having. They all became bedraggled and gave up the ghost this year. My plants have at times made side shoots (pups) and I have successfully removed and planted those in times past. I suggest you try to find the coolest part of your garden to grow them--- I grow them on the north side of mine. My earthbox planters have wheels so I can move things around in my garden. My garden area is a cement floor screened-greenhouse with pots and grow boxes everywhere. I also have a heated greenhouse for wintertime growing and stuff gets seasonally shuffled around from here and there. If this dang heat keeps up year after year I will put up more solar panels and install A/C in the greenhouse. I still have two brand new 4 ton A/C units still in crates in my barn that I bought at a 'going out of business' sale. I'll do whatever I have to do to grow my veggies & fruits... that crap they sell in supermarkets as veggies will kill you in the long run. Lou