How to grow... Globe Artichoke

Rocket Growing Guides

Definitely one for foodies! Globe artichokes look very majestic in the garden, and there’s something very ceremonial about eating them, peeling off each of the petals one by one to find that tasty morsel you get from them. They are low maintenance, reliable croppers, easy to grow, and it’s way cheaper to grow them than to buy an artichoke in the shops!

  • Globe Artichoke Growing Guide

How to Plant Globe Artichokes

  • Globe Artichoke is a perennial, so will come back year after year – therefore plant them in a permanent position.
  • They grow to approx 1m so need a bit of space. Plant 1-1.5m apart.
  • Choose a sheltered, sunny site with well drained soil.
  • They look great in beds and borders

How to Grow Globe Artichokes

  • Water plants well until established and make sure they don’t dry out in hot weather.
  • In the first year your artichoke plants need to put all their energy into making growth, so remove any flowerheads as they form.
  • In the second year, allow the edible heads to develop for harvesting in summer.
  • If you want to provide food for bees, allow some of the artichokes to flower
  • Cut back stems in late autumn (after they have finished flowering) and protect the remaining crown over winter with a thick mulch of straw or other material. They’ll grow again the following year. In mild areas, they may even produce new growth in autumn and winter.

Common Pests and Problems with Globe Artichokes

  • Earwigs – can often live in the fruits. Try rolling newspaper and dampening it, then leave near the base of the plant. If fruits are affected, try soaking them in a bowl of water with splash vinegar for a few minutes, then rinse out before cooking.
  • Aphids/blackfly – small black bugs may gather in clusters on stems and stalk. Hose them off, or cut off the affected foliage if possible. Find something yellow and sticky to deter them – e.g. a yellow bucket smeared with vaseline.
  • Small fruits – not enough water during summer months/fruiting season. (Fruits also tend to be small in the 1st year of growth – next year’s will be bigger.)

How to Harvest and Store Globe Artichokes

  • Harvest from the second year onwards, in summer. Start with the top bud first, when it’s large and swollen, but before the scales have started to open.
  • Pick the side buds when they have reached a decent size.
  • Some fruits will have sharp, spiky scales, so be careful.
  • They will only store for a day or two at room temperature, and are much the best eaten freshly harvested.

When your plants arrive....

Your baby plants will arrive carefully packed. They may look a little tired from their travels. This is quite normal but, as soon as possible, carefully unpack them all.

Stand them upright, being especially careful with the ones that aren’t in bio pots. The roots may be dry, so give them all a good drink of water by submerging the roots for a few minutes in a container of clean water.

Now you are ready to plant your Rocket Garden. Try to do this within 24 hours of the arrival of your plants.

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