Globe Artichoke
Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus
Globe artichoke is a large, silvery-leaved perennial grown for its edible flower buds. Unpicked buds open into spectacular purple thistle flowers, so it is as ornamental as it is productive.
Photo: Jamain · CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Moderate
Water deeply in dry weather, especially as buds form.
Soil
Rich, deep, well-drained soil; pH 6.5–7.5.
Temperature and humidity
-10–32 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed with compost or manure in spring and a balanced fertilizer during growth.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by division, offsets, seed
Cut stems to the ground after harvest and mulch the crown before winter.
Artichoke buds are safe to eat.
Top Cultivation Tips
Harvest buds while tight, before scales open.
Plants crop best for 3–4 years; replace with offsets.
Protect crowns from hard frost.
Leave a few buds to flower for bees.
Common problems
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new shoots and buds, sucking sap and leaving sticky honeydew behind.
How to treat it →DiseaseGrey mould
A fungal rot that covers flowers, fruit and soft stems with fuzzy grey mould in cool, damp conditions.
How to treat it →PestSnails and slugs
Night-feeding molluscs that chew ragged holes in leaves, seedlings and soft stems, especially in wet weather.
How to treat it →
