How to Grow Artichoke

The artichoke is one of the most curious plants you will ever encounter. It is actually a perennial herb from the thistle group. Scientifically it belongs to the Asteraceae family that includes all asters. It is native to the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. As an edible vegetable, the artichoke was first developed in Sicily, Italy, though there is mention of it in both Greek and Roman literature as early as 77 AD. It is known that the North African Moors cultivated the plant near Granada, Spain around 800AD and that the artichoke was introduced into England in the mid-1500’s, but it was not well received there.

The Spanish brought the first artichokes to America when they introduced them into California in the 1600’s. Our earliest Landreth catalogues, published in 1848, offer artichoke seeds for sale. The artichoke did not become a popular vegetable in America until the 1920’s when Andrew Molera who owned land in the Salinas Valley of Monterey, California decided to lease land he had previously cultivated for sugar beets to any farmer willing to try to grow artichokes. His venture was highly successful and by 1929 artichokes were the third largest cash crop in the Salinas Valley.

Today, nearly 100% of all the artichokes grown in the United States are grown in Castroville, California – the self proclaimed Artichoke Capital of the World. The edible portions of the artichoke are the fleshy bases of the plants unopened flower bracts and the heart of the choke. When left to bloom, the choke becomes a beautiful purple, thistle-like flower that can be used in dried flower arrangements.

In the temperate climates of most of the United States, the artichoke is best raised as a container plant. Landreth offers three types of artichokes:

• Green Globe – the most common variety with a green globular choke.
• Purple of Romagna – a large-headed purple choke thought to be more tender than Green Globe.
• Imperial Star – the first artichoke which will produce fruit in one 90-120 day season.

Artichokes require nitrogen rich, well-drained soil and as the plant matures lots of water. Seedlings should be started indoors, 12 weeks before the last spring frost. We have found seedlings to be very susceptible to root rot, so be careful not to overwater during the earliest stages of growth. If possible, after the first six weeks of growth, move the seedlings to a coldframe. After six weeks in a coldframe, transplant the seedlings into a 16-20 inch in diameter container – one seedling per container – filled with soil that drains easily.  

For the Green Globe and Purple of Romagna varieties continue to feed and water throughout the spring, summer and fall. After removing any dead or dying leaves bring the containers indoors before the first frost and leave indoors until all danger of frost is over in the spring. Do not fertilize and water less frequently during the winter months. About six weeks before the containers are placed outside, begin to fertilize again. During the second year, the plants should produce chokes. The artichoke plants should continue to produce chokes each year for about five years. After 5 years the plants become less and less productive.

For Imperial Star artichokes, the plants should produce chokes in about 90 days from transplant. Fertilize every two weeks with a nitrogen rich fertilizer and water frequently, but do not let the plant stand in water. Some of our gardeners have had success wintering over the Imperial Star artichokes, and some have had the plants produce chokes in the second year.