Growing Artichokes in a Perennial Vegetable or Container Garden

Among the perennial vegetable plants for an in-ground plot or containerized kitchen garden, consider artichoke plants. The large perennial thistle grows in warm gardens but can be over wintered in cooler locations, too. Cynara scobymus is the globe artichoke and Cynara cardunculus is the cardoon.

The Mediterranean native perennial is hardy within zones 8 – 11. The multi-purpose plant can be grown for the round vegetable it produces or the pretty ornamental thistle that blooms; the silvery green highly dissected leaves are also attractive in any style of garden.

Growing artichokes requires a long growing season best in warm climates. The perennial vegetable may also act as a biennial, tolerates a soil pH range from 6.5 – 8, well dug in with compost to drain efficiently and eight full hours of sunshine.

Cynara Scolymus in Vegetable Gardens

Cynara scolymus is a perennial plant that produces globe artichokes, a plant perfect for a warm vegetable garden. The jagged arching habit of the coarse gray green leaves form vase shaped clumps. The tall thick stalks produce 3″ – 6″ flower buds. The plants reach 3′ – 5′ tall and 3′ – 5′ wide.

Gardeners will see the flower stalk pushing up from the center of the plant. What people eat, the unopened buds, can also be left on the stalk opening to become purple, rose or blue flowers, useful for cutting for floral arrangements. Blooms on the plant will attract butterflies and bees to any type of garden.

To grow a Cynara scolymus, place the plant in the ground after the soil has thawed. Set the roots at least 6″ deep and if growing more than one artichoke plant space each a minimum of 5″ – 6″ apart.

Gardeners who want to grow Cynara scolymus for the vegetable or flower should watch for plants to produce side shoots as these will have buds, too. To obtain cut blooms, just as the buds are opening, cut the flower stalk.

Ornamental Cardoons in Container Gardens

In The Encyclopedia of Container Plants, Ray Rogers suggests growing the ornamental cardoons, Cynara cardunculus, in container gardens. The finely dissected silver but still arching leaves, with or without growing the plant for vegetables or flowers, adds structure to a large planter alone or in combination with other plants.

Cynara cardunculus complements plants that favor a Mediterranean styled environment, as they are hardy in zones 7 – 9. Cardoon plants will fit in an ornamental garden where lavender or rosemary, for instance, can grow outside all year. In colder regions, consider Calamintha for a summer companion planting. But remember, one cardoon plant requires a rather big container. Choose annuals or perennials that will play off of the dramatic leaves and colors that contrast with the gray.

Plant Care for Artichokes

Artichoke plants are considered heavy feeders. Gardeners will want to include deep regular watering, allowing soil to be moist but not dripping wet, in the plant care routine. The fertilize, heavy on nitrogen, should be used throughout the growing season

After flowering, withhold water, this will encourage summer dormancy. When leaves at the base of the plant again appear, gardeners can restart their watering. After flowering at the end of the growing seasons, cut back all plant stems to within a few inches from the soil’s surface.

Artichoke Heirloom Varieties for Growing & Cooking

If a gardener is growing artichoke vegetables to cook, consider the purple varieties. It is thought that the purple varieties produce more tender harvests.

For growing plants, gardeners will want to think about the number of days the plant takes to grow the bud or flower, where one lives and the purpose of the plant. Remember that buds, once opened flowers, are not good for eating.

In The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Heirloom Vegetables several varieties of Cynara scolymus are listed for a wide range of uses:

• ‘Imperial Star’ produces buds in approximately 90 days. It is hardy to zone 7 and a good annual artichoke for northern gardens.

• ‘Violetto’ is from Northern Italy, hardy to zone 6. It grows small violet artichokes and flowers that can be harvested ahead of ‘Green Globe.’

• ‘Green Globe’ is a fast growing plant that develops green artichokes in 85 days.

• ‘Purple of Romagna’ grows a larger rounder purple artichoke. It is a good choice for container gardens and allows harvesting between 85 – 100 days.

• ‘Violet de Provence’ is a French variety, available in Europe that is prized for its ornamental use.

The artichoke plant is a worthwhile vegetable to grow in a kitchen garden or as an ornamental plant in a container garden. The garden style and climate location are determining factors on how to use Cynara scolymus or Cynara cardunculus plants.

Sources:

Brickell, Christopher and Cathey, H. Marc and the American Horticultural Society, 2004, A – Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants.

Sterman, Irish, Phillips and Lamp’l, 2010, Water-wise Plants for the Southwest.