I've had very good results with Green Globe. I live at around 1000'so i get some significant cold. With a little mulching my plants usually produce for 3 years and then seem to need replacing. I started some new Green Globes from seed in early February and will plant out after the last frost. I'm also trying Violetto this year. it is also supposed to behardy. I have had as many as 8 good sized artichokes from one 2 year old plant. If you get more than you can eat they make interesting additions to dried arrangements. They do need full sun. Good luck. jwww

I planted 3 plants, 3 years ago and they have produced each year and have overwintered. Fruits are not large though and they suffer from aphids which the ants farm. Interestingly, I left some flowers on the plant and over the winter they fell on the ground. When I went to clean up the garden this spring, I discovered that the seeds within the choke were growing. The foliage is worth it for decorative value.

I have have about 14 artichoke plants. Most have sustained for at least 10 years and have developed into big clumps. For several years I tried so hard to overwinter and they died when I mulched with all sorts of stuff. I used boxes and bushels to cover when the freezing weather came. Then I gave up and did nothing, not even cutting them back until late Feb. - It seems like any mulch in the fall and winter makes them rot. I do spend time to weed and mulch in late winter. Most of my plants are right now reaching 2 feet tall and looking great.
I do like the diversity and surprize of growing from seeds. If you get some to grow, be sure to cut down the stem below the choke until it gets tough. The stems can be cooked and eaten like asparagus. The artichoke plants are very ornamental and the flowers are an extra bonus too.

I had an artichoke plant for 3 years and it just died this winter. I think the extra cold and rains did it in. It produced pretty well, with about 5 artichokes the last 2 seasons that were pretty good size. I let the little ones bloom and used those in a bouquet- they're very pretty. Don't know if I will grow another one just yet as it took up quite a bit of room in my small vegetable garden.

Thanks to everyone who replied! I think I may give them one more try this year! I agree, they are nice just as ornamentals!