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!

Hi Emmaclark, Welcome to Garden Web and The Plant Exchange! You have no email link on your member page, thus no way to email you. To set up your email link, just go to the bottom on any page here, and click on Member Pages Then click on Edit your Personal Information, Page, and Preferences You will then probably be asked to login in again. Then check the box Allow other users to send you email via forms at our site. For ease in trading you should check the box to show email addy to Members That will place a link on your member page, making it handy for members (potential traders) to reach you in the future. While there editing you might want to also place your state abbreviation in the one box provided for garden zone and location. (see I am zone 5/6 S In) It is beneficial info to have when trading for many reasons. Additionally, there are some traders (myself included) who often do not respond to many posts where the location of the OP is unknown. By putting the state abbreviation in your zone box, it will be listed in your Member Page, and it will also automatically be displayed each time you post. I see you have checked the box so that follow up replies will be emailed to you. I'm not sure if your lack of email link hindered then coming to you or not. Anyway, to email those who have posted to your thread, you can click on their member names here in the thread, and that will take you to their Member Page, and a link where you can email them. You won't however be able to email member name thelazygardener, as he is like you, and has no email link on his/her Member Page. Happy Gardening and trading. Sue ...chemocurl

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

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