If your growing season – that’s to say the average number of frost-free days in your location – is long enough, I recommend direct sowing.įor short season gardeners like me, however, starting these vegetables indoors may be the only way you can be sure to harvest your crop before the cold weather returns. Since these vegetables can take up to 180 days to reach maturity, use the length of your growing season to guide you in this choice. From SeedĪrtichokes can be grown from seed either by sowing them directly into your garden soil, or by starting them indoors to be set out later as transplants. One final note on selecting the location of your artichoke beds: these plants can live for fifteen years or more in certain zones, so think about your long-term landscaping plans when growing these as perennials. To accommodate your plants and ensure the best possible harvest, mix compost or well-composted manure into the top twelve inches of the soil.Īssistant Professor and Extension Horticulturalist Joseph Masabni, and Extension Assistant Patrick Lillard, at the Texas A&M University System Extension, recommend mixing in 100 to 140 pounds of composted manure into the soil for every 100 square feet of garden area prior to planting. Next, you’ll want to create a welcoming environment for your new artichoke plants, since these thistles are moderate to heavy feeders that prefer growing in rich soil.
ORGANIC ARTICHOKE SEEDLINGS FULL
Preparing Your Bedsīefore you get started, make sure to choose a location in full sun, with plenty of room to accommodate the large stature of these Mediterranean thistles – some cultivars can grow to be eight feet wide. Whichever method you choose, first you’ll want to prepare your garden beds. PropagationĪrtichokes can be propagated by seed as well as through division. In addition to its medicinal and culinary uses, many gardeners are coming to appreciate the artichoke for its merit as a landscaping plant that provides architectural interest in the garden, with its distinct lines and upright stature. Artichokes contain cynarin, a compound which demonstrates antioxidant properties, and may have the potential to protect the liver and the cardiovascular system, among other benefits.Īnother health benefit of this veggie lies in its fiber content – thanks to its inulin content, artichokes are an excellent source of prebiotics, the indigestible fibers that feed our gut microbiota. In addition to being enjoyed as a delectable food, centuries ago, these plants were commonly treated as aphrodisiacs, and sometimes still are today.Ĭurrently, globe artichokes are still used medicinally, but for less romantic purposes. To enjoy these edible portions, the artichoke is trimmed to remove all of the sharp parts of the bud – I’ll describe that process later in the article, so keep reading! Once you are familiar with the appearance of an artichoke plant, you may notice its strong resemblance to a thistle. Gardeners in colder zones will want to treat this veggie as an annual. They are perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 7 to 10, and depending on the variety, this range can be extended to Zones 5 and 6 with overwintering protection. While they may not be the most common garden vegetable, artichokes can nonetheless be grown at home in your garden, or even in your flower beds.Īnd they are adaptable to more climates and growing conditions than you might think.
If the tubers are what you’re after, consult our complete guide to growing and caring for Jerusalem artichokes. scolymus, also known as “globe artichokes,” and not the tubers called “sunchokes” or “Jerusalem artichokes,” which are botanically classified as Helianthus tuberosus. Just to make sure we’re on the same page before we get started, this article is about Cynara cardunculus var.
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