Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
ARTICHOKE
Cynara scolymus
Seen from a botanical point of view, the artichoke is a somewhat strange vegetable: the swollen flower
receptacle of the bud (the “heart”) and the swollen bud scales are what is eaten. Artichokes are known
only in their cultivated form; they presumably derive from a wild form of cardoon ( Cynara carduncu-
lus ).
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
• 10 to 15 healthy plants
• Mediterranean or maritime climate
POLLINATION NOTES What is colloquially called an artichoke flower is actually an entire inflores-
cence made up of dozens of small, individual flowers. These individual artichoke flowers are self-in-
fertile: the anthers send their pollen out five days before the stigma is able to receive it. Individual
flowers of the whole inflorescence of the plant can fertilize each other. Honeybees and bumblebees of-
ten visit artichoke flowers. Individual artichoke varieties can cross with each other and also with car-
doon varieties, so they must be isolated from one another: 650-800 ft. (200-250 m) between varieties
in a diversely planted garden. Hand pollination is also a possibility: bag the flowers of as many plants
as possible with a paper or non-woven fabric bag. Pollinate each flower with a brush. In areas with a
very mild climate, artichokes self-sow and can become a weed. Simply cut flowers if no seed is de-
sired.
Artichoke seeds
PROPAGATION Artichokes can be propagated sexually (by seed) or vegetatively (via basal side shoots).
They can be grown for seed only in warm regions with long growing seasons; in central Europe, they
are grown in sandy soils, which warm faster than heavier soils. Varieties that flower in the first year
must be sown early (late winter/early spring) if the seeds are to ripen fully; many varieties do not
bloom in the first year even when seed is sown early. Plants are not frost resistant, but in areas with
mild winters, artichokes can be harvested for several years. Plants produced by sexual propagation are
often highly variable, requiring great care during selection. But propagation by seed is good for reju-
venation and to increase genetic diversity, which gives wider choice for selection; the best of these
plants, produced sexually, can then be propagated vegetatively.
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