Okay, my experienced artichoke growers. I have a couple of questions for you. First of all, I was VERY excited to have not only my first choke growing, but at least four more right behind it. Wahoo!
Now, when are they ready to eat? It doesn’t look that big yet and it is still a little purple on the bottom. Am I looking at the right things here?
If I let it go and don’t eat it, but instead let it blossom out, will it stop producing?
Any wisdom on this one would be greatly appreciated.
BTW, this is the variety that I am growing.
The Jones Garden Blog 
I love growing artichokes. As for the coloring on the bottom that will not change as the variety you are growing and is sold in most nurseries is not the same green globe sold in the stores. From your picture I would cut the first one now. I usually let them get to about the size of a baseball. I don’t let them start to open up to much before picking them as I thing the younger ones taste better, a little less bitter you know. If you do let one go to flower yes it will stop producing for the season. The nice thing about phoenix though is that if you keep it watered and shaded through the summer you will get another crop in the spring. I have keep one plant alive for something like 4 years and it just got better each season. I am sure it would still be alive if I hadn’t gotten busy working one summer and forgot to water it for a few days.
That sounds excellent, Jake. Thank you!
I agree with Jake. This looks like a smaller variety, and that one looks ready. Your plant looks wonderful.
Thank you. 🙂
They look wonderful…yummy!
Thanks, I hope so!
I have never grown one, but it looks PERFECT. I hope you don’t need to pick it just yet so you can enjoy it in all its glory!
Harvested the first, four more coming up quickly, followed by a BOAT LOAD after that. This thing is really starting to produce. YEAH!