Globe artichoke

[Susie]

Are globe artichoke any good for wildlife? They are only an over-sized thistle really.

[badgerwatcher]

I would have thought the down from the seeds would be good for nesting. I'm planning to grow some. Maybe they will encourage HUGE goldfinches!

[Susie]

Lol!

Well, I have bought some today, so I will have to see what happens.

I've got a couple of other types of thistle too.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Susie

Lol!

Well, I have bought some today, so I will have to see what happens.

I've got a couple of other types of thistle too.

I bought seedlings a couple of years ago but the slugs ate them

[smartie]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I bought seedlings a couple of years ago but the slugs ate them

Well at least that shows they are good for some wildlife.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by Susie

Are globe artichoke any good for wildlife? They are only an over-sized thistle really.

Yes, they will basically feed anything that likes thistles. Such as peacock butterflies - in Brittany where they have huge hectarages of artichokes, the Peacock is considered a pest species ....
Does anyone know of any value of Jerusalem artichokes? And why are these two both called 'artichokes' when they're not related nor like each other as vegetables.

[badgerwatcher]

Jerusalem artichokes certainly not worth the effort of peeling! Can one eat the peel?

[Susie]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Yes, they will basically feed anything that likes thistles. Such as peacock butterflies

Excellent!

[nightshade]

Both types of artichoke are delicious and make interesting borderplants
Artichoke - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Susie]

thanks for the link, that was interesting. I thought a globe artichoke was the same thing as a cardoon - I know better now.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Yes, they will basically feed anything that likes thistles. Such as peacock butterflies - in Brittany where they have huge hectarages of artichokes, the Peacock is considered a pest species ....
Does anyone know of any value of Jerusalem artichokes? And why are these two both called 'artichokes' when they're not related nor like each other as vegetables.

Why is the Peacock considered a pest as the adults would only feed on the nectar. The larvae feed almost exclusively on nettles, Urtica species, with a few records from Hops. I wonder whether their relative the Painted Lady might use Cardunculus species as larval food plants as they regularly use various thistles + a range of other plants are also occasionally used.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Susie

Are globe artichoke any good for wildlife? They are only an over-sized thistle really.

I've got a large Cardoon (big brother of GA) in my front garden which is a very architectural plant- the bees love it + the House Sparrows attack the seed heads in the winter for the seeds. Despite getting Goldfinches daily in the back garden, I've only once seen them on it.

The stems often get a lot of blackfly on it which attracts a range of aphid predators/parasitoids from insects to Blue Tits.

Enjoy the plant!!

[Susie]

Ah, even better!

It was actually Cardoon I was looking for, as I saw one at Nymans Gardens last week and thought how impressive it looked and assumed it must be good for wildlife. I shall certainly enjoy this plant, I hope it thrives.

The more I hear about your garden aeshna5, the more I think it must be a little patch of paradise. It sounds wonderful.

[goosey]

I took this photo last year at Larch Cottage in Cumbria. I'm not sure if it is the Cynara scolymus or C. cardunculus but it was a striking plant, about 1.50m with a huge head. There were also a pink ones.

[Susie]

Oooooh, lovely!!!

Smashing pic - I can't wait for summer now.

[brainfarmer]

well i hope they are good for wildlife because to cook they are a complete waste and even if i had the biggest garden ever i wouldnt grow them.

[Paul mabbott]

Very good point! Perhaps I mistranslated - or the farmers were speaking Breton?
Cheers, Paul

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Why is the Peacock considered a pest as the adults would only feed on the nectar. The larvae feed almost exclusively on nettles, Urtica species, with a few records from Hops. I wonder whether their relative the Painted Lady might use Cardunculus species as larval food plants as they regularly use various thistles + a range of other plants are also occasionally used.

[Paul mabbott]

I'm sure all of us have a 'pet' plant - grown for the animals on it rather than for eating! I know that some people can do very good dishes with globe artichokes - not me though.
My pet plant is angelica (Angelica archangelica?) - a biennial that I allow to seed. Never had any success 'candying' it but get enormous populations of aphids, spiders, ladybirds, lacewings, carpet beetles ( ) ....

Originally Posted by brainfarmer

well i hope they are good for wildlife because to cook they are a complete waste and even if i had the biggest garden ever i wouldnt grow them.

[Susie]

Does your Angelica prefer sun, shade or semi-shade Paul?

I have one I brought with me and am not sure where in the garden it will want to live.

[brainfarmer]

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

I'm sure all of us have a 'pet' plant - grown for the animals on it rather than for eating! I know that some people can do very good dishes with globe artichokes - not me though.
My pet plant is angelica (Angelica archangelica?) - a biennial that I allow to seed. Never had any success 'candying' it but get enormous populations of aphids, spiders, ladybirds, lacewings, carpet beetles ( ) ....

oh i think its nice to grow things because its a test and the sense of satisfaction it can bring but artichokes just arent worth growing for eating, they are handsome plants and impressive but as a food crop pretty useless.

[Susie]

Good job I'm not growing it for eating then.

Off on one of my tangents .. why is biennial spelt biennial and not bi-annual?

[brainfarmer]

Originally Posted by Susie

Good job I'm not growing it for eating then.

Off on one of my tangents .. why is biennial spelt biennial and not bi-annual?

its to do with life cycle i think so a crop/flower that takes two years to reach maturity is biennial whereas something that flowers every 2 years would be said to flower bi annualy it is confusing though i agree.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Susie

Does your Angelica prefer sun, shade or semi-shade Paul?

I have one I brought with me and am not sure where in the garden it will want to live.

We've a lot of this plant along the Thames, where in places it's more common than the native Angelica sylvestris. I think with both species a moisture retentive soil is the most important requirement, otherwise sun/semi-shade will be fine. In addition to the insects Paul listd they are quite popular with hoverflies too (as are many umbels).

[goosey]

I bought one packet of Angelica (Love in the mist type) seeds quite a few years ago and have had good crops of them ever since. I take seeds from one or two seed heads after flowering to plant the next year in pots. They selfseed all over the place and don't seem too choosy where they flower. The Great Tits tend to go for the seed heads and butterflies love the flowers.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by Susie

Good job I'm not growing it for eating then.
Off on one of my tangents .. why is biennial spelt biennial and not bi-annual?

For the same reason that perennial is not spelled perannual????
Both words come almost direct from the Latin - biennis and perennis.