How to plant and grow globe artichoke

What you need to know about globe artichoke

Name: Globe artichoke, artichoke. Cynara cardunculus Scolymus Group.

Plant type: Short lived (3-5 years), semi-herbaceous perennial.

Height/size: Up to 1.5m x 1m.

Climate: Tropical, sub-tropical, warm temperate and cool temperate.

Soil: Open, free-draining, rich soil with reliable moisture.

Position: Full sun.

Flowering and fruiting: Early spring through to early summer.

Feeding: Improve soil with quality organic matter at planting time.

Watering: Requires reliable moisture across all seasons.

Appearance and characteristics

Best described as having a striking architectural form, this bold perennial is equally at home in the vegie patch as it is in a cottage or contemporary garden. The foliage is large, deeply and irregularly lobed and, depending on the variety, grey-green to silver-green. Part of the Asteraceae family, the artichoke is a cousin to sunflowers, dandelions and thistles. The flower is a large globe-like structure that opens to a tufted, purple thistle-like head. If being grown for eating the flower will not be seen, as it’s the flower globe that is picked well before opening.

The artichoke is somewhat unusual in that it is not the fruit or the roots that are eaten but the developing flower bud, called the ‘heart’.
The artichoke was a favourite of the ancient Greeks and Romans but it fell out of favour and was all but forgotten until the 15th century when Europeans rediscovered it. Today it is best known in French and Italian cuisine.

Artichokes are surprisingly hardy, given adequate moisture, and will tolerate coastal conditions as well as higher levels of wind than may be expected for such a leafy plant.

In cooler regions the plant may die back during winter. 𠊊s artichokes have been cultivated for centuries there are many varieties available. These will have different bud and heart sizes and varying growing requirements. It’s therefore important that you select varieties that suit your needs and your climate as some have lower cold tolerance.

Tip: So, what is the difference between an artichoke and a globe artichoke? The globe artichoke is not to be confused with the Jerusalem artichoke, a larger plant whose tubers, not the flowers, are harvested and eaten.

Uses for artichoke

Grow to harvest the delicious flower buds or ‘hearts’ for eating or purely as an ornamental plant. Its size makes globe artichoke a great backdrop plant for the vegie garden or as a feature plant in garden beds. If allowed to flower globe artichoke is a very useful plant to have near the vegie garden, as the flowers attract an abundance of pollinators. The flowers also make a fabulous cut flower for a vase and keep well for use in dried arrangements.

How to plant and grow globe artichoke

Artichokes require a full-sun position. They can tolerate coastal conditions and moderately windy spots.

They do best in an open, free-draining soil that has been enriched with well-rotted compost or manure.

Dry soil conditions will shorten the plant’s lifespan and reduce both the size and quality of the crop. Conversely, water-logged soils can kill a plant.

Artichokes tolerate mild frosts and temperatures to as low as -10˚C. They do require a moderate number of chill hours, time below 10˚C, to produce quality buds. Due to this fact they tend to produce smaller buds in warmer climates.

Planting tips

• Artichokes can be grown from seed. Sow them where they are to grow, cover lightly with seed-raising mix and thin out seedlings.
• Artichokes can also be purchased seasonally as small potted plants.
• Improve soil with quality organic matter at planting time.
• Add a quality controlled-release fertiliser when planting.

Caring for artichoke

Artichokes require little maintenance once established and are quite hardy but there is a difference between thriving and surviving when it comes to plant quality and flower bud production.

Watering artichoke

• Best performance of artichokes comes from growing in soil that is reliably, but not excessively, moist.
• Artichokes do not tolerate extremes – dry or water-logged soil – well.
• If required, improve soil at planting time with quality organic matter with an aim to improve drainage while increasing moisture-holding capacity.

When to harvest globe artichokes

The large flower buds should be harvested before they start to open when the stem beneath the bud is still somewhat flexible. Once the main flower heads are removed smaller secondary buds will develop allowing a repeat harvest of smaller buds.

Pruning

Any pruning is mainly to keep the plant tidy. Remove any lower leaves should they start to die off.

How to propagate artichoke

On established plants suckers form around the base every growing season. These can be carefully removed and replanted elsewhere in the garden. Artichokes are relatively short-lived but you can rejuvenate the original plant by lifting it every three years, dividing the tuber into sections and replanting. They will re-grow as if they are new plants.

Diseases and pests

Generally considered to be pest-free however may be impacted by rot in very humid weather.

Keep in mind...

• Wear gloves and a mask when handling mulch, compost and potting mix and also when pruning, along with long sleeves, as the leaves and sap of some plants can be a skin irritant and cause allergic reactions.
• Store garden chemicals and products out of reach of children and pets.

If you like this, try growing…

• Chillies: no Asian flavour garden is complete without chillies.
• Ginger: this is a must-have and makes an excellent garden or potted plant.
• Thai basil: popular herb used in Asian dishes that has a distinct liquorice-like aroma and spicy undertones.

Photo credit: Adobe Stock.