Globe artichokes are as ornamental as they are delicious — big silver-leaved perennials whose unopened flower buds are the gourmet treat. Give one room in a raised bed and it'll crop for years.
Quick facts
- Position: full sun
- Spacing: one plant per 1 m — they get big
- Tub depth: our 35 cm depth
- Time to harvest: first buds in the first spring
When to plant: Globe artichokes are perennials — plant offsets or seedlings in autumn or spring for years of harvest. They love a cool-winter, mild-summer climate. Our free planting calendar shows the right months for your postcode.
Growing it in a raised bed: Plant into rich, free-draining mix with plenty of room — a mature plant is over a metre across. Cut it back after cropping and divide clumps every few years.
Watering and feeding: Water well through the growing and budding season; feed generously, as they're hungry plants.
Common pests: keep an eye out for aphids and slugs and snails. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.
Common diseases: the main ones are powdery mildew. Good airflow, morning watering and steady moisture prevent most.
Companion plants: A statement perennial; give it a permanent spot at the back of a bed. See our companion planting guide.
Harvest and storage: Cut the buds while they're still tight and firm, before the scales open. Any you miss open into spectacular purple thistle flowers the bees adore.
More growing guides: Jerusalem artichokes, asparagus and rhubarb.
Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.
Image: Krzysztof Golik, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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