When can I harvest globe artichokes?

June to August in most UK gardens — but only from year 2 onwards. Year 1 plants should have any flower buds removed early to let the plant establish; cropping starts in year 2. Cut buds when fully formed but tightly closed — the scales should still be pressed together, the bud feels firm. Use secateurs, leaving 5–10 cm of stem. Once the scales start to spread (the bud is becoming a flower), it's too late — the choke inside has developed.

Will globe artichokes survive a UK winter?

Hardy in most UK gardens with proper protection (RHS H4) — survives down to about -10°C with a thick crown mulch. Main UK risk is cold wet winters on heavy soils: the crown rots. Protection regime: cut spent stems to 30 cm in November, pile 15–20 cm of dry mulch (bracken, straw, leaves) over the crown, remove mulch in spring. In very cold gardens (Highland Scotland): grow in a large pot that moves to a cold greenhouse for winter.

How many globe artichokes will one plant produce?

4–6 buds per year at peak (years 3–5). Year 1: zero (let it establish). Year 2: 1–3 buds. Years 3–5: full cropping (4–6 buds). Years 5+: declining (3–4 buds). For a household: plant 2–3 globe artichokes spaced 1 m apart for a regular weekly harvest from June through August during peak years. Each bud is a single artichoke serving.

What's the difference between globe artichoke and Jerusalem artichoke?

Completely different plants — and the names mislead. Globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus, this plant): a thistle relative grown for the unopened flower buds. Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus — see separate jerusalem-artichoke slug): a sunflower relative grown for the underground tubers. The Jerusalem name is a corruption of the Italian girasole (sunflower); they have no botanical or culinary connection to globe artichokes despite sharing the word.

Why are my globe artichoke buds small or spiny?

Three causes. (1) Seed-grown plant: seedling artichokes are variable — many produce small spiny buds with poor flavour. Replace with named-variety offsets (Green Globe, Violetto di Chioggia). (2) Too young or too old: year-2 plants produce smaller buds than peak (years 3–5); year-5+ plants decline. Plant fresh offsets every few years. (3) Drought stress: artichokes shut down in dry weather, producing small tough buds. Water deeply weekly in dry spells.

Can I grow globe artichokes in a pot?

Yes — and in cold gardens it's often the only way. Use a 50 cm deep pot of peat-free compost mixed with garden compost. Position in full sun. Advantage: the pot can move to a cold greenhouse or sheltered porch for winter protection. Disadvantages: pot plants are smaller and crop less (2–4 buds vs 4–6); they need more regular feeding (monthly liquid feed) and watering. Repot every 2–3 years; refresh top compost annually. Lift offsets from pot plants the same way as ground plants.

Carciofo

Cynara scolymus

Piantate i polloni di carciofo in primavera, in pieno sole e in un terreno profondo e ben drenato: sono belle piante perenni (alte 1,5 m) coltivate per i boccioli immaturi, che vengono consumati prima che si aprano. I carciofi sono moderatamente resistenti al freddo (RHS H4) e sopravvivono alla maggior parte degli inverni del Regno Unito con uno spesso strato di pacciamatura intorno alla corona; nei giardini freddi o umidi possono morire. Green Globe e Violetto di Chioggia sono le varietà più popolari nel Regno Unito. Piantate i polloni (piccoli germogli radicati dalla base delle piante già consolidate) piuttosto che i semi: le piante coltivate da seme sono variabili e spesso spinose. Tagliare i boccioli quando sono completamente formati ma ancora ben chiusi: una volta che le scaglie si aprono è troppo tardi, il bocciolo è diventato un fiore. Sostituire ogni 4-5 anni piantando nuovi polloni; le piante mature diventano meno produttive. Abbastanza scenografiche da meritarsi un posto anche se non si raccoglie mai.

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