Hello, I am new here but hoping someone can help me. We live outside Nashville,Tn zone 6b/7a-ish. For fun this year I ordered 2 Imperial Star artichokes. I planted one in an area that is - evidently - too shady bc it has sulked all summer. However, the other one I put in a bed right up against the west side of my light-colored brick house. I thought it might be too hot there but it has thrived. About 10 days ago I noticed a huge bud pushing out of the middle of the rosette of leaves. I was so excited - I did it! But then we took our kids to the beach for a week, leaving a friend in charge of the garden. I know it was veryhot while we were gone with only one thunderstorm. Anyway, when we returned today I ran straight to the garden. My artichoke bud is not "tight" - which is when the books say to harvest it - and another smaller one is emerging, but all the leaves are totally splayed out, flattened on the ground. Is it a goner? Should i go ahead and harvest my 2 buds to encourage more? Dies anyone know if Imperial Star is reliably perennial? Thanks so much, Tina
my artichoke collapsed - why?
Loose buds usually means not enough water at the time they need it the most. Artichokes pop up all over here in people's yards and grow fine until they bud out. Only the ones taken well care of with water and fertilizer are successful. The rest end up limp, droopy buds.
I would chop off the loose ones, keep the soil moist(not saturated) and maybe fertilize a little if you haven't in awhile.
Don't know much about Imperial Star except they are generally grown as annuals but can be perennial in Zones 7 and up. Northern Star and Emerald are two cold hardy 'chokes that might be better perennial choices for your area.