Common Questions and Answers About How to Grow Artichokes

Can you grow an artichoke plant from an artichoke?

No, you cannot plant an artichoke to grow a full artichoke plant. However, artichokes can be easily propagated by division, or by taking a cutting (offshoot) from an existing artichoke plant.

Can you move artichoke plants?

Yes, artichoke plants can be moved, or transplanted from one spot to another, usually without any trouble or stress on the plant. However, if you live in a region where artichokes are winter hardy and grown as perennials, artichoke plants should be rejuvenated every few years anyway by dividing the roots, removing offshoots, and transplanting those to new locations, or

Do artichokes come back every year?

In USDA zones seven through 11, artichokes are grown as tender perennials which come back year after year. Artichokes that are being cultivated outside of those zones are planted as annuals and are removed after the plants are harvested.

Do artichokes grow back each year?

In most areas, globe artichokes must be grown as annuals, where they do not grow back each year, but need to be replanted each spring. However, in regions where winters are mild, artichokes can be grown as perennials, where they only need to be replanted every four to six years.

Do artichokes have deep roots?

Yes, the roots of artichokes spread deep and wide into the soil, so each plant should be given at least six feet of space to grow into. Though artichokes will tolerate just about any type of soil medium, the soil it is provided needs to be well draining and rich in nutrients and organic matter in order to accommodate their roots and ensure quick growth.

Do artichokes need a lot of water?

Artichokes need a lot of water to produce their tender flower buds. Water your artichokes deeply and frequently throughout the growing season. Very hot soil will make the plants flower too quickly, so apply a thick mulch around the base of the plants to help keep the soil cool and keep the soil moist at all times. Artichokes love water and they need to be watered deeply so that it reaches their deep root systems. As a thistle, the perennial power of an artichoke plant lies in its deep roots. To encourage strong roots, water deeply 1 to 3 times a week, depending on the weather. During a hot, dry spell, three waterings per week may be necessary, especially if the hot, dry weather occurs when the plant’s buds are forming.

Do artichokes need full sun?

Artichokes like full sun, but not too much heat. They grow best in cool, foggy, coastal climates, but with some care can produce well in other mild-winter areas. Afternoon shade can help in areas where summers are hot. To produce the largest and most tender buds, the plants need rich, deep soil and ample watering, as well as at least six hours of direct sunlight exposure.

Do baby artichokes have choke?

No, baby artichokes have yet to develop the hairy choke that is at the center of mature artichokes, which makes them much less work to peel and eat.

Do fresh artichokes need to be refrigerated?

Yes, raw artichokes do not keep very well, so they need to either be wrapped in a plastic vegetable bag and refrigerated, or cooked (and then refrigerated).

Do I need to wash artichokes?

No, artichokes do not need to be washed before cooking. Washing your artichokes is optional and they are a bit of trouble to clean, so many people choose to skip cleaning them and turn directly to cooking them in water that is treated with citric acid, vitamin C or lemon juice. The citrus is needed to keep the artichokes from oxidizing and turning brown, which they tend to do rather quickly after being harvested or trimmed.

Do you soak artichokes?

Though it is not an essential practice, soaking trimmed artichokes in lemony water for an hour or two before cooking improves the artichoke’s taste and tenderness.

How big do artichoke plants get?

At maturity, artichoke plants can grow up to three to four feet tall with a four foot base.

How can you tell the difference between an artichoke and a cardoon?

Cardoons and artichokes look quite similar, as each plant has deeply lobed leaves and similar looking buds. However, they possess a few notable differences. Both plants possess silvery foliage and violet, thistle-like flowers, although artichokes produce larger flower buds with a tighter, more globular shape and less pronounced spines. Also, cardoons are a little bit rangier, typically growing both taller and wider than the artichoke plant.

Although different parts of the plants are eaten, cardoons and artichokes share a similarly nutty flavor due to their close relationship, although different parts of the plants are eaten. The large, overdeveloped flower buds of the artichoke are consumed, both for the meaty bits on the inner portion of the bud’s petals and the fleshy heart deep within the core of the bud. Cardoons are favored for their young leaves and soft, immature flower stalks, which can be eaten cooked or raw.

How do you divide artichoke plants?

Mature artichoke plants will send up one or several offshoots that can be used to divide and propagate the plant. Allow offshoots to reach a height of eight inches before removing it from the mature plant. The ideal time to remove offshoots is during the winter dormancy period, or during the fall months. Using a sharp knife or spade, separate the roots of the offshoot from those of the mature plant taking care not to injure the roots of either plant. Use the spade to dig a circle around the offshoot in order to loosen it from the soil. Carefully remove the offshoot and repack the soil around the original plant.

Select a sunny location with well-draining, fertile soil to plant the offshoot. Artichokes need plenty of room to grow. Space perennial plants six feet apart. Artichokes are ready to be harvested when the lowest bract on the bud starts to open. In warmer weather climates with longer seasons, you may be able to harvest two crops per year.

How do you overwinter artichokes?

Chop your artichoke stalks down to about six inches from the ground, gather the stalks together and tie them in place to keep them upright and protect the crown. Add four to six inches of compost around the base of each plant. To insulate the pruned down artichoke plant, add an additional eight inches of straw or leaves on top of the compost.

For extremely cold winters, take an extra step. Cover each of your artichoke plants with a cardboard box or a styrofoam cooler for more protection. Fill the protective casing with straw or leaves for additional insulation. Remove the box from the artichoke plants when the temperature returns to normal in your area. In zone six, you may need to keep the box in place for the majority of the season. In April, uncover the artichoke plant and feed them with a balanced fertilizer. Keep an eye on the weather just in case a cold snap comes in during early spring. Another method of overwintering your artichoke plants is to dig up the root crowns before freezing temperatures arrive and store them in a cool basement or garage. The storage location still needs to be relatively cold but not freezing, as artichoke plants go into dormancy during the winter.

How do you start artichoke seeds?

Sow annual seeds indoors near eight weeks before the last frost-free date in your area. Plant seeds right beneath the soil in pots that are at least four to five inches in diameter. Keep seedlings moist and place in a sunny location that gets at least ten hours of sunlight per day. Fertilize seedlings lightly every couple of weeks. Harden your artichoke plants off over the course of a week before transplanting into larger containers outside or directly in your garden beds.

How often should artichokes be watered?

Artichoke plants need to be watered one to three times per week depending on the weather.

Is the choke of an artichoke poisonous?

No, the choke of an artichoke is not poisonous, but it is a choking hazard, and should therefore always be carefully removed from the bud before attempting to eat the heart.

Is there a part of the artichoke you can’t eat?

Yes, the choke, which rests just above the heart, is not only inedible, it is also a choking hazard. The bracts, commonly referred to as leaves, are mostly woody and fibrous as well, though each leaf has an edible portion that can be nibbled off after the artichoke has been cooked.