![]() ![]() Protect the plants over winter by mulching over the roots with plenty organic mulch (e.g. After harvest, cut the stems of the plant back to ground level or slightly below the soil line. Remove the mulch when the plants begin to bud and replace with a generous covering of compost. A covering of thick mulch will help to conserve soil moisture. Plants should not be allowed to dry out and soil should be kept moist. Globe artichokes will benefit from the application of a balanced fertilizer once every month during the growing season. Once all buds have been harvested from the plant, the plant should be cut down to the ground. Use a sharp knife to cut the buds from the plant leaving a 2.5 to 7.5 cm (1-3 in) section of stem with each bud. Small, immature heads are more tender than older heads close to opening. Globe artichoke flower buds should be harvested before they begin to open. AFter the first year, remove any plants that are not producing well to achieve a final spacing of 1.2 to 1.8 m (4-6 ft) between plants. Space the plants 0.9 m (3 ft) apart in rows spaced 0.9 m (3 ft). Seedlings should be transplanted outdoors after hardening and after all danger of frost has passed. Seeds should be sown generously as successful germination is approximately 70% and not all of the emerging seedling will produce high quality plants. ![]() Seeds should be sown 2.5 cm (1 in) deep in seeds starting mix in small 4 in pots. Globe artichoke seeds should be started indoors approximately 2 month prior to the last frost date for your area. Do not harvest any flower heads in the first year while the new plants establish. The roots should be set to a depth of 15 to 20 cm (6-8 in) and spaced 1.2 to 1.8 m (4-6 ft) apart. The separated shoots should be planted in a freshly prepared bed. The shoots are removed by cutting the attachment to the mother plant at the root with a sharp knife and gently loosening it from the soil and existing root ball. Shoots should be selected from plants that produce well and should be removed when they are about 20 cm (8 in) in height. Existing globe artichoke plants should be divided in Fall or Winter when the plant is dormant. Globe artichokes are usually vegetatively propagated from underground shoots known as 'ovoli' or from the suckers, stumps or dried shoots from the previous growing season although it can be grown as an annual plant from seed. However, the plants will not tolerate a waterlogged soil. In addition, globe artichokes require frequent irrigation to ensure growth of good quality heads. Frost can cause the flower heads to blister and may kill the buds. The plants will tolerate both cold and high temperatures but this will reduce the tenderness of the head. ![]() The prevailing climatic conditions are extremely important to successful growth of high quality flowerheads. Globe artichokes are cool season crops and grow best in deep, fertile and well drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 8.0. ![]()
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