Growing Artichokes (Globe)

Cynara scolymus : Asteraceae / the daisy family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  S                    
      T                
      P                

(Best months for growing Artichokes (Globe) in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 59°F and 64°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 63 - 79 inches apart
  • Harvest in 42-57 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Needs a lot of space. Best in separate bed
  • Ready to harvest
  • Globe artichokes

Superthistles growing to 1.2 - 1.3 m high with a spread of 1.2 x 1.2 m.

Very pretty, can be part of a herbacious border.

Harvest from second year. Artichokes grow particularly well in sandy soil. Can be propagated by suckers or offsets. In temperate/warm areas a well fertilised plant will live for about five years and throw up suckers each year. Artichokes aren't hardy enough to overwinter in areas with very cold winters. In cold areas choose a hardy variety from a local supplier and grow it as an annual, with 10 days' exposure to cool daytime temperatures during spring. Transplant only when all danger of frost is past in your area. Aphids and earwigs can be a nuisance.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Artichokes (Globe)

Pick buds before scales develop brown tips .
If you have lots of small buds, they can be fried in olive oil and eaten whole.
Rinse in plenty of cold water to remove earwigs or other insects.

Your comments and tips

02 Dec 24, Jen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
A comment re Artichoke here in Tasmania... north of Hobart..... my Globe Artichoke shrubs>> have been growing successfully every year.... yes die down over winter but shoot again every year! and are producing a lot of Artichokes AND I let a few go to "flower" as they look stunning in a tall vase
01 Sep 24, (Australia - temperate climate)
I have three glove artichokes plants which did well last year. I cut the top off at the end of the season and left the roots and about 50cm stem. Will they grow again this year ?? Thanks
02 Dec 24, Jen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
YES, the globe artichoke is another come again food... you will see new shoots from the base of the large stems.... you can either dig out and plant in a different location as you may have noticed they grow tall and wide... so need a bit of space even for you to access to cut the heads off for cooking. ALSO I have a few that have grown from one of the many gone to seed heads!
19 Aug 24, (USA - Zone 7b climate)
If artichokes are to be treated as an annual, and you’re supposed to harvest the second year, how does that work?
03 Jul 24, jenni langley (USA - Zone 8a climate)
When should I plant artichoke seeds outside?
19 Jul 24, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Spring is best
13 Apr 24, Janet (USA - Zone 9b climate)
I live in zone 9a. I'm in the desert. We have a lot of wind, 5 mph -- 20mph. We have worst wind in spring that occasionally blows 35mph! Our winters are cool and can dip to 32 one or two nights. We have early springs. I bought 2 5" poted artichokes plants in spring. I placed them where they would be protected from cool nights and wind. They have not grown much. The nights are now in the warmer so I stopped covering. The leaves are yellow and dried.
21 May 24, Texas Grown (USA - Zone 10a climate)
I've never tried growing artichokes but I get a lot of wind here too. Even in sheltered spots, the wind can really dry out a plant fast. Use enough mulch and water using soaker or drip under the mulch layer. But check the soil first down to at least an inch before watering. Dry yellow leaves could mean it froze despite the cover. Remove the bad leaves. Maybe it will recover.
29 Aug 23, Bonnie (USA - Zone 7b climate)
What does it mean to plant under cover? Inside, or under a roof, or under one of those plastic covers like a mini-greenhouse? Thank you!
06 Sep 23, Anonymous (USA - Zone 4a climate)
Out of the sunlight. Google about it.
Showing 1 - 10 of 134 comments

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