How to Grow Globe Artichoke

In ancient mythology, the Greek god Zeus loved the globe artichoke. This belief gave the globe artichoke the nickname "vegetable of the gods." The globe artichoke is a member of the thistle family. The "heart" of the artichoke is a common food consumed around the world.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Sow the globe artichoke seeds 5 inches apart. Plant the seeds 1 inch below the surface and in rows spaced 5 to 6 feet apart. If you are planting globe artichoke plants, plant them 2 inches apart.

2. Sprinkle the globe artichoke seeds or small plants with a water sprinkler three to five times a week for one to three hours during the heat of the day.

3. Protect your globe artichoke against pests. The most common pests for young globe artichokes are slugs, especially when grown in a wet climate. Once the globe artichoke flower, aphids are drawn to the flower buds.

4. Treat your globe artichoke for disease. Blight is the most common disease that occurs in globe artichokes. This disease affects the flower pedals. Fungicide is the best treatment for blight. Use it at the first sign of disease.

5. Harvest the globe artichoke. Globe artichoke plants take 90 to 100 days to fully mature. Most do not produce buds for the first year of growth. Harvest the plants when the buds begin to open. To harvest the globe artichoke, cut the stem 2 to 3 inches below the bud. The stem produces secondary buds after cutting and allows the plant to be harvested again.

Tips & Warnings

• Normally a globe artichoke takes two to four years before it produces a bud. If buds are not harvested, they continue to grow and open to become flowers.

Resources

• Read all about growing artichokes.