Growing artichokes: when and how to plant & sow artichokes
With their delicious hearts and scales, globe artichokes are one of the treats of summer. Discover how to plant and grow artichokes in your garden.
Although globe artichokes (Cynara scolymus) are usually grown for their edible flower heads, they can also encourage wildlife and add some height and structure to your garden. Find out all there is to know about planting and growing artichokes and how to care for them over winter.
Contents
Growing artichokes: when, where and how
Even though you can buy globe artichokes from farm shops and some supermarkets, there is no doubt that they taste best when freshly picked. Globe artichokes are originally from warmer climates, but you can successfully grow them here too, given the right care.
When, where and how to plant artichokes
Being native to the Mediterranean, it is no surprise that globe artichokes like to grow in a warm and sunny spot. A south or west-facing location that is sheltered from the cold winter winds is ideal. It is also wise to avoid sites that are prone to waterlogging or frost pockets, as your artichoke plants will struggle to thrive and produce a good artichoke harvest. When it comes to the soil type, globe artichokes prefer a fertile and free-draining soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline. A lighter soil is best for artichokes. If the soil in your garden is heavy, add some horticultural grit before planting.
If you are wondering when to plant artichokes, the best time is in spring. There are several artichoke varieties to choose from, ranging in size with either green or purple heads. Either way, whichever variety you go for, globe artichokes require a lot of room to thrive and should be planted with a minimum spacing of 90cm between plants.
When mature, globe artichokes are generally hardy in winter. However, wait until the last frost of spring has passed before planting out artichoke seedlings and make sure they are big enough: a good root system and four to five leaves.
To prepare the ground before planting your artichokes, remove any stones and weeds and add some garden compost to enrich the soil and increase drainage. For example, you can use our Plantura Organic Tomato & Vegetable Compost to grow artichokes. It is enriched with essential nutrients to help the artichoke plants get off to a good start and peat-free, making it good for the environment. To plant your artichokes, dig a hole at least as deep as the current root ball and twice as wide. Place the plant at the same depth it was previously planted at and backfill with soil, gently firming in as you go. Water thoroughly and protect the young leaves from slugs and snails (Gastropoda).
Tip: globe artichokes do not have to be contained to the vegetable patch. Their ornamental leaves and flower heads can look stunning and add height and structure to the back of a border.
- Perfect for tomatoes & other vegetables such as chillies, courgettes & more
- For strong & healthy plant growth as well as an abundant vegetable harvest
- Peat-free & organic soil: CO2-saving composition
Growing artichokes in pots:
Globe artichokes are large plants and need ample space to grow. Due to their size, globe artichokes are better off in the ground, but growing globe artichokes in a large container or raised bed with a minimum diameter of 60cm is possible. However, you may need to water your artichoke plants more regularly to prevent the soil from completely drying out and fertilise them more often. Some extra measures need to be taken for overwintering artichokes in pots, as the compost freezes more easily than in the ground. Wrap the pot with bubble wrap or fleece to protect the artichoke from frost.
Growing artichokes from seed
Although globe artichokes are usually grown from young plants, divisions, or suckers, you can also grow artichokes from seed. You can sow artichoke seeds either undercover in February to March or directly outdoors in early summer. Sowing undercover can be advantageous, as you can sow them earlier and protect the artichoke seedlings more easily from slugs and snails.
- Sow artichoke seeds individually in 9cm pots filled with a peat-free multi-purpose compost, at a depth of around 1cm
- Water and place in a propagator at a temperature of 21 to 23 °C or cover with cling film before placing on a warm windowsill
- Keep the soil moist but not saturated until germination occurs
- Once germinated, remove any cover and grow on indoors in a well-lit spot, yet out of any harsh direct sunlight
- Once 4 to 5 leaves are visible and a good root system has formed, you can harden the artichoke seedlings off before planting outdoors in their final place
Artichoke plant care
Once established, globe artichoke plants are relatively drought-tolerant and require little ongoing care. However, for the first year, it is advisable to water artichoke plants regularly, keeping the soil moist. From the second year onwards, watering is generally only required during hot and dry spells and when the buds are forming to encourage them to swell.
To encourage a good harvest and help maintain plant health, feed your artichokes with a high-potassium fertiliser in the spring. For example, our granular Plantura Tomato Food can be used for fertilising artichokes, as it is not only rich in potassium but also its long-lasting effect means that one application will feed the plants for up to 2 to 3 months. Mulch the artichoke plants in spring with some well-rotted manure to give them a boost and help maintain soil health and structure.
- Perfect for tomatoes, chillies, courgettes, cucumber & more
- For healthy plants & an abundant tomato harvest
- Long-lasting fertiliser that is free from animal products - child & pet friendly
As a perennial plant, globe artichokes die back in the winter before new growth appears in spring. In autumn, you can prune globe artichoke plants by cutting the spent stems and foliage back to ground level and use the large leaves as a protective winter mulch.
Depending on the variety, artichokes are rated H4 to H5 for hardiness, which indicates that they can withstand temperatures down to -5 °C and below. However, young plants are particularly susceptible in their first winter and benefit from some winter protection. To overwinter artichokes and protect the crown, you can either lay the pruned leaves over the crown or apply a mulch of compost or straw to provide some extra insulation against the cold.
Even though they share the same name, globe artichokes are not actually related to the Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus). Learn all about the tuberous Jerusalem artichoke and its uses in our separate article.
