Growing Artichokes In Your Garden

The part of the artichoke we eat is the bud of a plant in the thistle family. The plant grows up to three feet high and the bud, if allowed to open, is up to seven inches across and lavender. Artichokes have been grown to eat since Roman times. They are delicious steamed and dipped in melted butter.

Transplants versus Seed

Artichokes have to grow 60 days from seed before they are large enough and strong enough to grow outside. This means you need to start the artichoke seeds two months before you want to plant the seedlings outside. Start seeds by planting them 1/4 inch deep. Keep the seedbed in indirect sun or under a grow light. The seedlings need constant moisture in the soil to grow well.

if you do not want to start artichokes from seed, you can purchase the seedlings from a nursery. Transplant the seedlings 2 1/2 to 3 feet apart in rows 3-4 feet apart. Plant in the fall. The artichoke will become established in the fall and winter, then take off in the spring.

Recommended Varieties To Grow

Consult your Extension agent for the best varieties of artichoke to grow in your area. Dr. Masbi, the Texas A&M Extension Specialist on vegetables, recommends these varieties for North Central Texas.

• Green Globe (standard variety)
• Imperial Star (less vigorous than Green Globe)
• Harmony
• Madrigal
• Emerald
• Grand Beurre
• Talpiot
• Purple Sicilian (purple globe)

How to Grow Artichokes  

Artichokes are not hard to grow. Here is what they need to produce for you.

Light 

Artichokes need at least six hours of sun a day. The plant will appreciate some afternoon shade.

Soil 

Artichokes need deep, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter in it. The plant has deep roots, so it needs enough soil beneath it for the roots to grow. This may be a problem in raised beds.

Water 

Artichokes need constant moisture during the growing season. Water them well at least once a week so that the roots grow deeply.

Humidity 

Dry conditions will cause the buds to open early and taste bad. Keep the soil moist to help combat this.

Temperature 

If the temperature is going to be below 25 degrees F, cover the plant with six inches of straw or a frost cloth to protect the plant.

Hot temperatures cause the buds to open early and to taste bad. Keeping the soil moist and using mulch will help control this problem.

Fertilizer 

Before planting artichokes, it is wise to do a soil test. The results will tell you what fertilizer you need to use and how much to put down. In the absence of a soil test, use a balanced fertilizer formulated for vegetables. Work the fertilizer into the top 2-3 inches of soil.

Every two weeks in the early spring, apply a liquid fertilizer containing zinc and calcium as a foliar spray.

Mulch

Artichokes benefit from mulching. The mulch helps keep the soil moisture constant and the soil cool in summer and warm in winter. Three inches of mulch also protects against weeds.

Weeding

Weeding is very important to growing artichokes. Weeds can choke out small artichokes. In addition, weeds rob your crops of nutrients, water, and sunlight.

Pruning

After the artichokes have finished having buds, cut the plant to the ground. Depending on the climate where you live, the plant will go into heat dormancy and send out shoots in the fall, or it will go dormant for the winter and send out shoots in the spring.

Artichoke Diseases

When the weather is rainy, Powdery mildew, Verticillium wilt, and botrytis rot are problems. Curly dwarf virus and bacterial crown rot are problems regardless of the weather. Overwatering will lead to root rot.

Artichoke Pests

There are several pests that cause problems for artichokes.

Plume Moth

This small buff moth lays eggs on the artichoke. The pale yellow or green larva chew holes in the artichoke bracts, leaves, and stems. They also bore into the buds. Treat with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).

Aphids

Aphids are green sucking insects that drink the sap from the artichoke plants. This can stunt plants and make them weak and unable to grow vigorously. Aphids excrete honeydew, a sweet, sticky substance. Sooty mold likes to grow on the honeydew. Because sooty mold covers the leaves, it restricts photosynthesis, further weakening the plant. Treat with insecticidal soap.

Cribrate Weevil Larvae

These weevils are dark brown to black and about a third of an inch long. As adults, they feed on the stem, leaves, and buds. The adult lays her eggs in the soil around the artichoke. The larvae feed on the roots of the plant. Soft, fleshy roots are cut off and eaten. Larger roots are stripped of their bark and can this can girdle the roots. In both cases, the plant loses vigor and is stunted.

The larvae of the cribrate weevil can be treated with a soil drench of nematodes in the genus Heterorhabditis. These are available from mail order garden supply places. Keep the soil moist to allow the nematodes to work. Adults can be controlled with pyrethirins.

Spider Mites

Spider mites are barely visible to the naked eye. They have eight legs and are related to ticks and spiders. Insecticides do not kill spider mites as they are not insects but anthropodes. The mites spin silk webbing to nest in, and this is often the first indication of a problem. The leaves wilt and may turn yellow from feeding by spider mites.

Spider mites like dry, hot environments, so keeping the soil moist will help keep them from becoming a problem. Neem oil will kill them.

Propagating Artichokes From Division

Artichokes are perennials. In the fall, you can divide the plant shoots and replant them. Just make sure you cut the shoot from the parent cleanly and get some roots with the shoot. Other diseases are curly dwarf virus and bacterial crown rot.

Harvesting

A healthy artichoke plant should produce 6-9 buds. When harvesting the buds, cut the stem 2-3 inches below the bud.