A little lesser-known plant, Artichoke is a sub-specie of thistle, commonly grown as an edible crop to be consumed within the USA and other parts of the world. The scientific name for artichoke is Cynara scolymus and, as obvious, Artichokes aren’t anything like other thistle weeds. The plant’s edible history dates back to ancient Romans and Greeks, who would love devouring this flower-like plant in their luxury meals.
A beautiful addition to your vegetable garden, artichokes are constantly losing their popularity among the gardening circles within the USA mainland. Despite its losing fame, growing this plant to eat it later could be quite fun. You can grow Artichoke in almost all flowering regions within the USA. The most typical growing zones for this plant range between 3 and 11. However, between zone 7 and 11, the plant grows as a perennial. The edible portion of the plant is its freshly growing flower bud but some other parts are also eaten in different forms.
Artichoke Plants’ Types
Knowing the wide range that exists in artichoke plants can help you decide on the most suitable form for your garden. Some of the well-known artichokes include the following:
Big Heart Artichoke: This is a variety that brings with it almost no clutter and pricky thorns for your gardening area. Big heart artichoke has been just recently discovered by the gardening circles. It mostly grows as an annual plant in warmer regions. The name comes from this plant’s ability to be able to grow up to 5 and a half inches and sometimes even more.
Green GlobeArtichoke: This is one of the most common varieties of artichoke. Green Globe mostly grows in colder zones as an annual plant but often handles mildly warm summers quite well as perennials too. You can harvest this variety only after 75 days of its plantation.
Jerusalem Artichoke: This one is rather a far-flung relative of the artichoke family that is, indeed, a part of the sunflower species. However, it is understood and grown in most of the northern parts of the USA as an artichoke. The plant has sunflower-like flowers, and its edible tube looks like a 4 inches long ginger. Overall, the Jerusalem artichoke can grow up to 9 feet tall.
Violetta Artichoke: Landed straight from the Italian grounds, this variety has a beautiful, purple-colored edible bud that is smaller than almost all other artichoke varieties. You can recognize this variety from its tenderness and small, 3-inch sized growth.
Artichoke Harvest Time
The best time for artichoke’s harvest depends on where you want to plant the crop. If you live in extremely hot coastal zones between 9 and 11, you can expect the plant to grow all the way in cold seasons and then start budding somewhere in May. For such areas, the plant’s harvest time starts anywhere around mid-June.
On the other hand, the mid-range zone gardeners have to wait throughout the winters after planting their artichoke. This is because the plant lives under the soil throughout the cold season and only starts appearing above the ground once the weather gets a bit humid and warm. The harvest time for these artichokes is around May and June too.
As far as the water requirements of this plant are considered, Artichokes need plenty of moisture and should be watered daily. Another important point to consider is this plant’s light needs. Artichokes require full sunlight, directly on them for their best growth. Therefore, you must try spacing the plant in a way that none of the growth overshadows the other.
How To Plant Artichokes?
Below are the basic steps to grow artichokes from the scratch:
Once you have selected a place with plenty of sunlight and healthy soil, you can start preparing the soil for the artichoke plantation. The best soil for these plants is excessively moist, rich in nutrients, well-worked over, and neither falls apart nor does it clump when squeezed in hand.
Once the soil is prepared, you can take 60 days old artichoke seeds and start planting them in the soil. Another, rather easier, the method is to use root divisions. Get some artichoke roots from a nursery and place them at least 4 to 6 feet apart in the soil.
Once they are planted, you should water the roots constantly and wait for them to show some signs of growth. Use overhead irrigation for regions where the weather is extremely hot and make sure that the soil is never lacking in moisture.
Use whatever fertilizers you deem useful for the plants and let them grow. Once the flower starts blooming, it is time to harvest the edible part by cutting the stem from around 1-3 inches from the base of the bud. Use a sharp knife to make the cuts.
After harvesting, make sure to prune the artichoke-reserved soil to prepare for better growth of the plant in the next season.
Common Pests And Diseases
Even when it’s quite uncommon, artichokes can be sometimes disrupted by the following diseases and pests:
Artichoke Plume Moth: It’s a condition where a small larva eats up the artichoke bud, especially when you haven’t used insecticides. Some other snugs and snails can also eat up the plant if not well taken care of.
Curley Dwarf: It’s a disease that curls the leaves and ruins the buds of the artichoke plant. This disease can kill the plant by stunting its reproduction and growth.
Botrytis Blight: This is a fungal condition occurring as a result of pests or unfavorable weather. The leaves turn greyish brown with no cure for the crop.
Remedies And Caring Tips For Disease Prevention
Here are some common steps you can take to protect your artichoke and promote their faster growth:
Never expose the crop to a temperature below 27 degrees Fahrenheit
Keep the plants covered in case of frost
Regularly irrigate the soil in summers
Never let the soil run out of moisture and water
Keep the adequate spacing between the seeds or roots at the time of planting them
Use nutrient-rich soil and supplement it with fertilizers whenever needed
