Artichoke, Green Globe
Green Globe Artichoke
Please read these instructions carefully, these are hard to grow if you don’t follow good advice. Heirloom. Organic. First documented listing in a seed catalog is 1883, these have been a gardening favorite for a very long time. Green globe is a perennial in zones 7-10 and planted as an annual elsewhere. This artichoke is know for being one of the fastest producers of artichokes grown from seed. Green Globe Artichoke produces tender, nutty and flavorful green artichokes. Just imagine the flavor of dipping your own artichokes in butter and savoring each moment not only for the flavor, but for the fact that you grew them! Globe artichokes are low in calories and sodium and high in vitamin C, folic acid, and magnesium. A good source of dietary fiber, artichokes are free of saturated fat and cholesterol. In other words, artichokes are healthy food.
When you eat an artichoke you are eating the immature flower. The edible globe or bud is actually the fleshy bracts of the flower, plus the receptacle, which is what we call the heart. Harvest chokes when the heads are still tightly closed and the lower bud bracts start to separate. Secondary chokes will develop after you cut the top one. Time of harvest depends on location. If you don’t harvest the immature flowers they turn into thistle-like purple-blue flowers. With their large, fuzzy gray leaves, artichoke blooms are dramatic additions to flower arrangements. In fact, the blooms are so striking; many gardeners grow artichoke plants in their flower gardens.
Planting Green Globe Artichoke
While starting seeds of the Green Globe Artichoke is not necessarily difficult, the right conditions will make the process successful. In cold climates, start artichoke seeds indoors eight weeks before the last spring frost date. Sow them one-quarter inch apart in soilless mix; transplant seedlings into two-to-four-inch containers. Grow them on at 60-70 degrees F during the day and 50-60 degrees F at night. When they are six-to-eight weeks old, plant them in the garden two-to-three feet apart. To set buds artichoke plants need at least 250 hours of temperatures below 50 degrees F, a process called vernalization. Be sure to protect plants from frost. In areas where the winter temperature stays above 14 degrees F, seeds are typically sown in the fall and harvested in the spring. Artichokes need sandy, quick-draining soil with high organic content; cool nights and warm days; and a regular supply of water. Mulching with coarse, loose mulch will keep weeds down and moisture even. Full sun is a must. Height: 3-4 feet tall and 4 foot wide Days to harvest—50 to 100 Days
Spacing: 48-54" inches Depth: 1/2 inch Germination: 10-21 days
Starting from Seed Indoors
Generally, the time to start your seeds is about 6- 8 weeks before the last expected spring frost date in your area, planting the seedlings outdoors about 2 weeks after that date. Another way to figure is to plan on setting out sturdy seedlings in the garden when night temperatures stay in the mid-50 degree range both day and night. Count back and sow seeds 6 to 8 weeks before that date normally arrives. Place a few seeds (2 to 5) into each pot and push them into the soil with your finger. Cover the seeds to a depth of approximately 1/4 inches of the potting mix. Mist each pot with water until the soil appears moist. Place the pots in an area which will provide both light (which is required for germination) and heat, preferably about 65 to 70 degrees F and at least 8 hours of light each day. Check on the seeds every day and keep the seeds damp but not drenched by misting with your plant mister. You should see sprouting in about 10 to 21 days. Once your seedlings have reached about 4 to 6 inches in height, choose an area in your garden to transfer them. . Place a pot (or pot contents) in the hole center and level so that your seedling is at the same level as the surrounding soil. Push dirt in carefully all the way to fill the hole back up. Water each seedling carefully so as not to soak the leaves or stem.
Direct-seeding into the Garden
Turn over the area you've selected to a depth of approximately 2 inches. Rake the area until it's level and smooth. Water the area until the soil is damp but not saturated. Scatter the seeds in the area. Gently rake the area to distribute the seeds further and protect them from birds. Or, press the seeds into the soil and cover with no more than 1/4 inches of soil. You can also place 2 to 3 seeds every 48 to 54 inches in rows approximately 18-24 inches apart, and cover seeds with 1/2 inches of soil. Place planting stakes around the area so you will know where to water. Check on your seeds about once a day. Make sure to mist the soil whenever it appears dry. Germination for Green Globe Artichoke plants is approximately 10 to 21 days, depending on the warmth of the soil.
Germination Problems
Growing plants from seeds successfully depends on a lot of factors and this makes it impossible to guarantee success on every batch of seeds planted. Factors include, soil composition, PH, temperature, moisture levels, seed depth, soil density, seed viability, seed storage and many others. We tested the germination of all our seeds and this seed variety is around 80%, but your results may vary based on exactly how you plant and all the environmental factors. Good luck.