Guide on Cultivating and Nurturing Globe Artichokes
Growing, Caring for, and Harvesting Globe Artichokes in Your Home Garden
Globe artichokes, with their dramatic and ornamental appearance, make a great addition to both vegetable and garden borders. Here's a guide on how to grow, care for, and harvest these edible delights in your home garden.
Growing
Start by planting artichoke seeds indoors about 2 to 3 months before the last expected frost, placing them 1/4 inch deep in soil. Transplant the seedlings outdoors when the soil has warmed, spacing them 3 to 4 feet apart to accommodate their large mature size. Globe artichokes grow best in USDA zones 7 to 11 and prefer mild climates without frost. In cooler areas, they can be grown as annuals.
Caring
Water regularly to promote the development of large buds. Use mulch to retain soil moisture and control weeds. Artichokes are heavy feeders; provide rich, well-fertilized soil for best growth. The plants can grow 1 to 5 meters tall with thick stalks and large leaves.
Harvesting
Harvest the flower buds before they fully open but once they are firm and well-sized. Each plant produces 2 to 3 main buds at the top and 8 to 10 smaller buds lower down on the stalks. If left unharvested, the buds will bloom into large purple-blue flowers, which attract pollinators.
Common home garden varieties include Green Globe, Chianti, Mercury, Big Heart, King, and Siena. Artichokes not only provide edible buds but also serve as ornamental plants in the garden.
To ensure a good yield, water during dry spells in spring and early summer whilst the buds are forming, to improve crop size and quality. Allow plenty of space for globe artichoke plants as they grow large (around 1.5m tall and 60cm spread).
Tips and Tricks
- Plant globe artichoke in spring to early summer in fertile, well-drained soil, spacing plants 60-90cm apart.
- Plant globe artichoke in late spring and early summer into good soil and in a warm, sheltered site, with plenty of space to grow.
- Globe artichoke plants have large-growing perennial vegetable bases that produce immature flowerheads on tall stems above long, jagged, grey-green leaves.
- Globe artichoke produces a small crop in its first year and larger crops subsequently.
- Artichokes are traditionally eaten steamed, broken apart into scales, and dipped into melted butter or hollandaise sauce.
- Named varieties of artichoke give a better, more reliable crop than seed-raised plants.
In your home garden, globe artichokes not only provide a delicious and nutritious crop but also add a touch of ornamental beauty. Happy gardening!
[1] RHS (Royal Horticultural Society). (n.d.). Globe Artichoke. Retrieved from https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/24102/Globe-Artichoke
[3] BBC Gardeners' World. (n.d.). Globe Artichoke. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/globe-artichoke
Your home garden can be enhanced with the addition of globe artichokes, which are not only edible but also serve as ornamental plants. When growing globe artichokes, plant the seeds indoors before the last expected frost, and transplant the seedlings outdoors when the soil has warmed, giving them plenty of space due to their large mature size. To ensure a good yield, follow a regular watering schedule during dry spells in spring and early summer, and provide rich, well-fertilized soil for best growth. Happy home-and-garden gardening!
