First globe artichokes

I know I mulched my globe artichokes thickly with cardboard and manure but I seriously cannot believe I'm seeing the first artichoke on the 5th of April!!

I snapped the artichokes off as soon as I spotted them - this will encourage the plants to produce lots of side shoots, for a bigger harvest soon...

I can't wait to taste the first harvest. This is one of my favourite veg and quite hard to find in the shops.