Vegetable · Perennial vegetable
Artichoke
Cynara cardunculus var. scolymusA dramatic, silvery perennial that rewards patience with buttery flower buds. It needs a spell of cool weather as a young plant to trigger bud formation, so timing indoors matters. The one rule: give it a genuine cold snap before it faces hot weather.
Sow depth
½ in
Spacing
3 ft apart
Sun
Full sun
Germination
10–20 days
Time to harvest
90–120 days
Difficulty
Moderate
When to sow artichoke
- Sow from about 2 weeks before your last expected frost until about 4 weeks after your last expected frost.
Start indoors — sow into deep pots 8–10 weeks before transplanting out.Chill young seedlings at 10°C or below for two weeks to trigger budding.Harden off thoroughly before transplanting once frost risk has passed.
Feed heavily — artichokes are hungry plants; mulch with compost each spring.Water deeply and regularly; drought stress toughens the buds.Cut old foliage back after harvest to tidy the crown for regrowth.
Cut buds while tight — once scales loosen the heart turns fibrous.Take the central bud first, then side buds as they follow.Leave a few buds to flower if you want to feed pollinators late season.
Companion plants
Tall companions like sunflowers give young artichokes welcome afternoon shade without crowding their wide roots.
Watch out for
Aphids — Cluster on tender bud scales in mild weather. Blast off with water or introduce ladybirds early.Slugs — Shelter in the crown’s damp leaf bases. Keep the base clear of mulch and hand-pick at dusk.