Artichokes are relatively easy to grow. The only challenge to growing them is the space they require, since they are a large plant, and they need this space permanently, as they are a perennial and keep coming back, year after year.

Botanical Information

Taxonomy

History

Physical Description

• GV: enormous, thistle-like plant, very decorative. Mature plant will produce 12+ green or purple flowerheads. The flowerheads can be cooked and eaten whole, if harvested young (golf-ball-sized).
• PVFS: Native to the mediterranean; silvery-green leaves with large flower buds which blossom into beautiful purple ornamental flowers
• GV: enormous, thistle-like plant
• PVFS: plants will grow 4 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide

Varieties & Cultivars

Categories available

Colors Available

Varieties Available

Growth Requirements

Climate & Temperature Requirements

• PVFS: USDA zones 8 & 9: perennial all other zones: annual; dies back to the ground in colder areas, but will survive, if roots don’t freeze

Air Temperarture

• PVFS: mulch heavily to protect from frost
• GV: mild climates preferred, with shelter; prefers sunny but not hot
• GV: for germination, at least 59 degrees F

Soil Temperature

Humidity

Day Length or Light Requirements

• GV: prefers sunny, but not hot weather

Site Conditions Favored

• PVFS: artichokes like sunshine, but not the heat, nor frost, nor wind

Soil Requirements

Soil Texture

• PVFS: well-drained soil, rich in organic matter

pH

• GV: 6.5

Nutrient Requirements

• GV: fertile soil with lots of organic matter

Propagation

Methods of propagation

Seed

• TKG: sow seeds in spring; 6-8 weeks later harden off then plant out; may have buds in first year (Violetto or Green Globe Improved)
• GV: sow seeds in late winter or early spring indoors; keep them at least at 59 degrees F. Pot up into 4″ pots to harden off; plant out in early summer

Roots or Crowns

• PVFS: Roots and crowns should be planted in the winter, if it doesn’t freeze.

Division

• PVFS: divide artichoke plants every 6-7 years; plant as for crowns or offsets

Cuttings or Offsets

• Offsets should be cut in spring and planted out directly
• GV: cut offsets, also known as sideshoots, off plant with a short length of root from the base of the plant in Spring. Plant out in Spring – 3′ apart, 2″ deep. Water in and trim ends of leaves to 5″ long. If nights are cold or if frost threatens, cover with fleece.

Transplanting or Potting Up

• GV: Pot up into 4″ pots to harden off; plant out in early summer

Seed Saving

Planting Out

Bed Prep & Soil Amendments

Bed Spacing

Row Spacing

• General Guidelines: plant offsets of most varieties 3′ apart
• Improved Green Globe should be planted 4-6′ apart in rows 8′ apart, or closer if treating them as annuals

Planting Depth

• General Guidelines: plant offsets 2″ deep
• Improved Green Globe crowns should be planted 6-8″ deep

Alternative Bed Methods

Routine Cultivation & Maintenance

Water Requirements

• PVFS: after growth starts,, water thoroughly once per week, wetting entire root system
• GV: keep plants watered, don’t let them dry out. The main problems with artichokes revolve around water: too little = small artichokes; too much = rotted plants

Fertilization Recommendations

• GV: in spring, spread a rich organic mulch around them or water with a high-potash liquid fertilizer

Mulching & Weeding

• PVFS: heavy mulching in winter to prevent freezing of roots
• GV: in spring, spread a rich organic mulch around them
• GV: keep plants weed free

Pinching or Pruning & Dividing

• PVFS: when leaves start to yellow, cut off old stalks near ground
• GV: in first year, cut off main flowerhead as soon as it appears. this will stimulate growth & the following year’s crop will be better.
• GV: in the 3rd or 4th year the plant will be starting to crop less generously, so start cutting offsets from it with a view to phasing it out. See Propagation: Offsets, for more info.

Support

Winterizing

• PVFS: in cold winter areas, cut tops to 1′ in fall
• GV: earth up the plants and cover with straw or bracken
• GV: Cut off dead stems; Remove foliage turning yellow or brown; Fork over soil to prevent compaction; Spread mulch of well-rotted compost or moanure around the base of the plant; In very cold winters, cover with straw, too.

Companion Planting

Helpful Companions

Harmful Companions

Companion to..

Pests, Diseases & Problems

Common Pests

• Aphids
• snails
• Slugs
• Gophers
• Earwigs
• Blackfly

Common Diseases

Symptoms

Whole Plant

Leaves

Stem/Trunk

Flowers

Fruit

Roots

Harvesting & Storage

Edible Parts of the Plant

• Flower Buds, before blooming, when tight & plump
• GV: harvest at golf-ball-size to eat the whole thing

Yield

• GV: a mature plant should yield 12+ artichokes

Days to Harvest / Harvest Timing

• GV: harvest in summer & fall

Harvest Methods

• GV: start by cutting the largest, topmost globe (AKA: the “king”) at the moment it turns plump and soft, just before the green scales begin to open out. Leave a short section of stalk attached. Pick the rest of the heads in the same way. Sometimes you will get a second crop of 10-12 in the fall.

Storage of Harvest

Fresh

Canned

Frozen

Pickled

Dried

Cooking Artichokes

Nutritional Benefits & Values

Toxicity

Cooking

Preparation

Cooking Methods

Recipes (links to Recipes Category)

Resources

Information for this article was taken from these sources.