When to plant artichokes?

When, by region

February-May, about 2 cm (¾ in), 75-90 cm (30-35 in), May and June, the 5 leaves, about 30 cm (1 ft), 1-1.5 m (3-5 ft), a pot of 45 cm (18 in), the 4 or 5 years, 20-30 cm (8-12 in), 15 cm (6 in), June and up to 12 buds are from the RHS. September, mid-July to the end of August, the second fortnight of July, the third ten days of August, 130-140 cm, the 7,000, 8,000 and 10,000 plants and 8-25 °C (46-77 °F) are from Campania. July-September, February-March, 1.4-2 m, 0.6-1.2 m, 8,000-12,000 plants, harvest from November to May and a daily mean of 2-30 °C (36-86 °F) are from Sicily. The 5 years and at least 2 years away are from Umbria 2025, which writes no month. Asparagus is in when to plant asparagus. The months are in the February calendar, March, April, May, June, July, August and September.

From February to June, in the north

The RHS sows indoors from late winter to mid-spring, about 2 cm (¾ in) deep, one seed to a cell. The calendar marks February, March, April and May. Outdoors, in spring once the soil is warm, 2 or 3 seeds at the final spacing, 75-90 cm (30-35 in) apart, and you keep the strongest plant. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last frost: May and June on the calendar. The plant is ready with at least 5 large leaves and about 30 cm (1 ft) of height. Large plants in pots can go in during other months, but they settle better in spring. Divisions and offsets, in spring, go straight into their place.

In the first summer, take off the flower stalks, so the plant makes roots. The crop starts from the second summer, from June, while the bud is still closed. A mature plant makes up to 12. The pot is in starting seeds indoors.

Campania and Sicily

In Campania the date depends on the material. In September, offsets taken from the mother plants, with roots and 4-5 leaves. From mid-July to the end of August, module-raised plants with a root ball. From the second fortnight of July to the third ten days of August, dormant shoots. Between rows, for the Romanesco type, 130-140 cm, and you do not go over 10,000 plants per hectare. The table also prints 7,000 and 8,000. The soil wants a pH of 6.5-7, with no waterlogging. Below 8 °C (46 °F) or above 24-25 °C (75-77 °F) the crop is in trouble. In a 5-year rotation, at least 2 years stay clear of artichoke, and at least one year is a cereal or a green manure. On a biennial cycle, at least 1 year away is enough. With autumn planting, earthing up about a month later limits the cold.

In Sicily planting is between July and September, with dormant shoots, micropropagated plants or rooted dormant shoots. Offsets are for filling gaps and, for planting a field, in February-March. Between rows 1.4-2 m, along the row 0.6-1.2 m, 8,000-12,000 plants per hectare. The useful daily mean sits between 2 °C and 30 °C (36-86 °F). The natural cycle is autumn-winter and finishes in May. Harvest runs from November to May. To bring the wake-up forward, you may irrigate in July-August. Here too, in 5 years, at least 2 without artichoke. Umbria, in 2025, has the sheet and does not write the month. In 5 years, at least 2 away. On the biennial, at least 1. Asparagus is in when to plant asparagus.

A permanent spot, then divide

Plant in the sun, in shelter, in soil that drains. The RHS digs in 2 bucketfuls of organic matter per square metre. The plant reaches 1-1.5 m (3-5 ft) tall and 1 m (3 ft) wide. In a pot, one in at least 45 cm (18 in) wide and deep, and in summer you water often. Through the first summer the water is regular. After that the plant copes with drought, but when the buds are forming a long spell without water cuts their number and their size. Watering is in watering.

Every 4 or 5 years, divide the clump, in spring. Offsets, 20-30 cm (8-12 in) tall, come away with a piece of root, are shortened to 15 cm (6 in) and are replanted at once. In late autumn, cut the spent foliage and lay it over the crown. In colder areas, add a thick mulch. The first winter, before the plant is established, is the delicate one. In crop rotation perennials stay in a permanent corner. Globe artichoke is one of those, and the regional guides still ask for years away before it returns to the same spot.