6 secrets growing artichoke in your garden

Artichoke is a perennial vegetable with a special flavor that we can use in many ways in our kitchen. Whatever the thorns, no matter how difficult it is to clean! The artichoke is extremely tasty raw with lemon, it is even a fine appetizer to accompany ouzo and raki, as well as cooked ale citizens and many more homemade recipes. What we eat as an “artichoke” fruit is essentially the flower head, where the flower of the plant originates, which we harvest long before it ripens, in late spring with early summer. Perennial shrub-grown vegetable, artichoke can be grown in a garden and in a flower pot on the balcony. The artichoke plant reaches a height of 1.5 meters, while in summer the shoot dries up and falls into dormancy until the first autumn rains, where it sprouts and gives new shoots.

Intercropping, what vegetables we grow together in the garden

What conditions does the artichoke need?

Artichokes grow in sandy, fertile soil with good drainage and in mild winters. Moderate temperatures of 15-20 ° C are needed to develop tender flower heads. Artichoke is not frost resistant at all and should be planted in places that are protected from the cold. At very low temperatures the artichoke heads freeze and tan, while at very high temperatures they harden abruptly and are unsuitable for consumption. To plant artichokes in pots, we select a balcony with a south or west exposure and we supply large pots, 30cm in height and diameter, to plant small artichoke plants.

What do we need to know when planting artichokes?

The artichoke is planted in the fall, either with offsets that emerge from the buds of the artichoke with the first autumn rains or from ready-to-plant plants we obtain from nurseries. Appropriate planting distances for artichokes are 1 meter between plants and 1.5 meters between planting lines. When planting in the pit, it is very important to add organic matter by incorporating well-digested manure, compost and complete biological fertilizer. Immediately after planting, good watering is essential for the smooth development of the root system.

How often watering artichokes and fertilizer what they want?

Artichoke needs moderate watering to give good growth and production. In spring we water 2-3 times a week, while in summer we stop watering. However, it is important to avoid over-watering too frequently to avoid the development of fungal diseases in the shoot and foliage of artichoke. To fertilize the artichoke at the beginning of spring, we will need to add manure along with a complete biological fertilizer to ensure rich vegetation and fruiting.

Marigold, a durable flower that protects vegetables and beautifies our gardens

What diseases and insects affect artichokes?

Artichoke is affected by several diseases and insects. To avoid the development of fungal diseases, such as rust and carbonation, in the spring, we clean the lower leaves of the artichoke to ensure better plant ventilation and less moisture. In addition, it is advisable to sprinkle around the root and sprinkle with baking soda on the leaves. To protect our artichokes from meligra as well as caterpillars, we spray with potassium salts and Thuringia bacilli that we supply from agribusinesses. Alternatively, we can use a green soap solution made by dissolving 20 grams of grated green soap and 5ml of alcohol in 1 liter of water.

The proliferation of artichoke

Artichoke is a perennial plant cultivated for its edible flower head and is sought after for fresh consumption and for cooking. Artichoke propagation is done in three different ways: Seed, with seedlings (parts of the underground part of the plant), but mainly with offspring.

• When does the artichoke breeding season begin to breed?
The process of propagating artichoke with offspring starts in early autumn. In the summer the above-ground part of the plant dries up, but the basement remains alive as at the base of the central shoot below the surface of the soil, there are 10-20 bud-like buds in dormancy. With the first rains of autumn or if we water at the beginning of September, many of the buds emerge from the lethargy and give each of them a sprout that will be used to create the new plant.

• What is the process of propagating artichoke with offspring?
As soon as the artichoke shells reach about 30 cm high and 4-5 leaves, which is usually the case in October-November, they are carefully cut with a hoe from the old plant along with their own fleshy root and part of the fleshy root. plant. Then the artichoke offsets are immediately transplanted to their new permanent position in the field, followed by a good watering.

• A secret to the proliferation of artichoke
In the method of propagating artichoke with offspring, after the young plants are cut and before transplanting, we remove part of the foliage to reduce transpiration and water losses until the artichoke plant forms new roots and absorbs water again. from the ground.

And one last secret to growing artichoke

Artichokes have a good yield from the second year to the fourth year of their life when their harvest reaches about ten flower heads per plant, and their production is significantly reduced in the following years.