There are some plants that just don’t belong in the small-space garden, and unfortunately dear friend, you (artichoke) are one of them. But that’s not to say that they don’t belong in the garden, because an artichoke is a majestic plant and a fierce culinary weapon – not to mention a purple flower that will make you, and all pollinators, swoon.
Growing artichoke requires patience, planning and commitment. Plants take up a lot of space and won’t produce any meaningful hearts until its second year. However, for the next 5 years it’ll repay the faith with steady production.
To accommodate this behemoth plant you need a succession plan. Some plants can grow around it early, but as it gets established it appreciates a little breathing room.
PLANTING
Plant seedling early in spring, and if frosts are still threatening, protect with plastic collars or upended plastic bottles to incubate. Water seedling daily for the first 4 weeks, and then mulch with pea straw or lucerne hay once soil temperatures approach 20 degrees celsius.
WATERING
In ground: Water daily for the first 4 weeks and 3-4 times a week in the absence of rainfall thereafter.
In Pots: Water daily, in the absence of rainfall, for the entirety of the warm season, and then cut back to watering every second day during the cooler times of the year.
MAINTENANCE
A month after planting from seedling mulch to a depth of 3–5cm using pea straw, lucerne hay or sugar cane mulch.
After 12 weeks feed with slow-release organic fertiliser.
Roughly 5 months after planting, begin harvesting the flower buds (hearts) by cutting them off about 5cm (2in) down the stem. Feed them fortnightly with liquid potash while they are flowering.
At 32 weeks moderately prune back the plant to maintain a healthy shape and stake if necessary. Any extra plants that shoot from the root zone can be carefully taken from the plant and grown elsewhere in the garden.
Once the earth has made one full rotation around the sun, or roughly a year since you first planted your artichoke, feed with slow-release organic fertiliser and re-mulch the plants.
HARVESTING
Time until first harvest: 1–2 years
How to harvest: harvest artichoke flowers once they have developed into a full sized heart but before they begin to open up to flower (as soon as the artichoke ‘petals’ begin to flay, it’s time!). Use a good pair of secateurs to cut 3-5cm down the stem.
TIP
Artichoke heads – when allowed to open to flower – will attract bees and predatory insects in the same way mosquitos are drawn into a flood light. A great way to get beneficial bugs into the patch.
