Growing Artichokes
The artichoke plant in the photo below was planted by us in our California garden one and a half years ago. Since we have gophers in the ground, we dug a 1x1 foot hole and placed a square cage made of chicken wire in the hole. We then placed in 1/2 store bought compost (comprised of wood chips, worm castings, bat guano, and steer manure) and 1/2 aged steer manure, mixed together. The artichoke was a small starter plant from a local nursery which cost under $2. It was about 8 inches in height. Within about eight months of the original planting, the artichoke plant provided about ten artichokes. Now, one and a half years after original planting, the plant is huge, with four shoots and about thirty artichokes at the moment.
Most vegetables love a lot of sun. This artichoke gets full sun, although our weather is foggy sometimes as well. Artichokes are tough, easily putting up with any leaf trimming as needed as well as droughts. Artichokes can be harvested when the head is 4-8 inches in diameter, or they can be allowed to flower.
Most vegetables love a lot of sun. This artichoke gets full sun, although our weather is foggy sometimes as well. Artichokes are tough, easily putting up with any leaf trimming as needed as well as droughts. Artichokes can be harvested when the head is 4-8 inches in diameter, or they can be allowed to flower.
