Artichoke - Green Globe Improved (Seeds)

Description

Heirloom Vegetable. First year artichokes are small & few in number but can still be suitable for harvest. Higher quality artichokes develop in the second and third years – therein lies the gardener’s greatest challenge. Artichokes will not survive winter in most areas of Canada! We suggest digging up and overwintering dormant roots in a cool area indoors if you do want to try for a second year harvest. “Green Globe” has deep green buds with a slight purple tinge. The artichoke flowers are best harvested when 5-9 cm (2.5-4″) in diameter. The fleshy base of the flower scales and the firm centre are the edible portions. Plants can reach 1.5 m (4.5’) in height in one year. Artichoke is a tender perennial hardy from zone 7 up.  Photo by Magpi-Moon under the Creative Commons Attribution License 2.0.

How to Grow

Start seed indoors in a soil-less mix 8-12 weeks before the last frost date in your area. Sow the seed 6 mm (1/4″) deep and germinate at 21-26 C (70-80 F). When seedlings are 2.5-5 cm (1-2″) high transplant to individual 10 cm (4″) pots and grow on at 15-21 C. Harden off and transplant to the garden after the threat of frost has passed. Artichoke does best in full sun with a deep, organic, fertile soil. Space plants 60-90 cm (24-36″) apart in the row with rows 1.75 m (6′) apart. Keep plants evenly watered and mulch the soil to help preserve soil moisture and keep the soil from becoming too warm in summer – if the soil does become too warm, it can trigger a summer dormant period. Start with a thin layer of mulch and build it up to 10 cm (4″) thick as the plants grow.