When do i cut back artichokes

Learn everything you need to know about drought tolerant landscaping, including the best type of plants,. What is an Artichoke? Steps to Growing Artichokes Members of the thistle family are known for their ability to grow in almost any location. Choose the Right Location Artichoke plant care begins with great drainage and plenty of sunlight.

But in reality, soggy soil is usually to blame. Consistently sitting in moisture will damage the artichoke crown and root system. Artichokes love to eat up all the nitrogen from soil.

These plants will not compete for nutrients. Prepare the Soil Artichokes grow in most soils, but deeply worked, nutrient-rich soil full of organic matter will increase your artichoke harvest.

To check the texture of your soil, grab a handful, give it a squeeze and then open your hand. It should gently crumble across your palm. To prepare your artichoke bed, dig your row at least 8 inches deep and work in 5 inches of compost. For a large artichoke garden, mix in lb. Artichoke seedlings usually need to be approximately 60 days old before transferring to your garden. Root divisions are an easier option and are widely available from both local and online nurseries and garden centers.

With a height of 3 to 4 feet and a mature diameter of up to 6 feet, artichokes take up a lot of space. Artichoke plants require full sun, so if you plant them too closely together, the large plants can shade smaller ones. Plant your artichoke transplants in a row at an interval of 4 to 6 feet.

Placing rows 6 to 8 feet apart will allow room to easily water, fertilize and harvest. Building the row up in a mound or with irrigation channels will help improve soil drainage. If you see poor results with your annual artichokes, you may need to trick them.

Expose the seedlings to cool temperatures below 50 degrees in March and April. If temperatures drop below freezing, bring them indoors. Then, wait to plant until after the last frost.

Water Artichokes Consistently Artichokes love water. They need it to produce tender buds. As a thistle, the perennial power of an artichoke plant lies in its deep roots. Extremely hot summers can cause artichoke buds to open quickly into flowers. Mulching around each plant can also help reduce soil temperatures and water evaporation.

Apply Artichoke Fertilizer Taking the time to properly fertilize your artichoke bed gives your plants the essential nutrients for a well-established start. Apply a balanced vegetable plant food every two weeks throughout the growing season for healthy plants and high yields.

Harvest Artichokes with Ease The center artichoke bud matures the fastest and grows the largest. When harvesting artichokes, all you need is a utility knife to cut the stem approximately 1 to 3 inches from the base of the bud. The stem becomes a useful handle when trimming the artichoke.

Make sure you leave only the most vigorous shoot on the old plant for production next spring. Download a printer-friendly version of this page: Artichokes. Contact Your County Office. Our work makes a difference, in the lives of Texans and on the economy.

View Economic Impacts ». By: Joseph Masabni The artichoke, a member of the thistle family, has been cultivated and enjoyed since the time of the Romans. Soil preparation Globe artichoke produces best in deep, fertile, well-drained soil, but will grow in a wide range of soils.

Seed preparation Plan before fall planting because it can take up to 60 days before plants are of suitable size for planting outside. Fertilizing Artichokes grow well when fertilized regularly. If a soil test is not done, follow these general recommendations: If manure is available, mix to pounds of composted manure per square feet into the soil before planting.

Phosphorus and potash are best applied before planting and should also be worked in. Apply about 0. Artichokes require about 0. Work it into the soil before planting, and apply an additional 0. Foliar applications of a liquid fertilizer containing calcium and zinc are recommended every 2 weeks during active growth in early spring. Care during the season Do not expose artichokes to temperatures below 25 degrees F in the winter.

Watering Artichokes are deep-rooted and require adequate moisture when growing and producing fruit. The artichoke Cynara cardunculus var. These garden-friendly plants grow best in United States Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 to 9, but they require a little special maintenance — cutting back artichokes, which grow as thick giant thistles, isn't the same as pruning any old bush.

Harvest the artichoke's pinecone-like buds, which appear on the plant's elongated stems and lateral branches, when the top bud reaches about 2 to 4 inches in diameter.

Cut the bud off with pruning shears, leaving about 1. But I let several buds remain to flaunt their vibrant blue-violet coronas, attracting bees and butterflies. The entire plant will die back and winter under a protective layer of mulch. Sometime in January, silvery foliage will begin to peek through the mulch, as the plant slowly awakens toward a renewed cycle of growth in spring.

Ornamental or Vegetable? With their large, silver-gray leaves, oval — shaped, scaled flower buds edible part , and stunning violet-blue flowers, artichokes are a dramatic, sculptural element in the garden or landscape. They can certainly be planted in your vegetable garden, but consider your ornamental beds, as well. Plant at the back of perennial beds or borders, along a fence, or in half barrels or other large containers.

Artichokes in my front garden occupy the back of a crescent-shaped mound, with rainbow chard, purple cabbage and bunch onions at the front of the bed. Annual flowers like cosmos, small sunflowers and amaranth make an attractive cover for the dormant, mulched plants in the heat of summer. With the grocery stores beginning to have abundant supplies of local artichokes, now is a good time to scout out a place in either your vegetable or ornamental beds for a few plants.

Then add artichokes to your list of fall plantings!