How to grow Globe Artichoke in New Zealand
Globe artichoke is a big, silver-leaved perennial in the thistle family, grown for its fat flower buds, which are picked before they open. One plant takes about a square metre and crops each spring and early summer for several years. It needs full sun, rich soil and, above all, good drainage.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Globe Artichoke in New Zealand
At a glance
When to plant by region
| Region | When to plant | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| Northland | August to October, January to April | |
| Auckland | August to October, January to April | |
| Waikato & Bay of Plenty | August to October, January to April | |
| Central North Island | August to October, January to April | |
| Wellington & Lower North Island | August to October, January to April | |
| Nelson & Marlborough | August to October, January to April | |
| Canterbury | August to April | Plant Aug to Apr so roots establish before the hard frosts. |
| Otago & Southland | August to April | Plant Aug to Apr. Before that the ground is too cold, and later plantings do not root in before the hard frosts. |
| Central Otago | September to March | Plant Sep to Mar so roots establish before the hard frosts. |
Not to be confused with: Jerusalem artichoke, which is an unrelated sunflower grown for its knobbly underground tubers.
Where to plant
Give globe artichokes full sun, shelter from strong wind and deep, fertile soil dug through with plenty of compost. Good drainage is essential, as the crowns rot in soil that stays wet over winter. If your soil is acid, add a little lime or dolomite before planting.
Each plant grows 1 to 1.8 m tall and about a metre wide and stays for years, so choose a spot at the back of a vegetable bed or in a sunny border where it can stay put.
- Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty, the central North Island, Wellington, and Nelson and Marlborough: plant from August to October, or sow and plant from January to April in mild, free-draining spots.
- Canterbury, Otago and Southland: plant from August to April so the roots establish before the hard frosts.
- Central Otago: plant from September to March so roots establish before the hard frosts.
Choosing a variety
| Variety | Notes |
|---|---|
| Green Globe | The classic large green artichoke, vigorous and reliable, easy from seed. Grows to about 1.8 m |
| Imperial Star | Bred to crop in its first year from an early sowing |
| Purple de Romagna | An Italian heirloom with tender, violet-tinged heads |
Plants grown from seed vary, so if you find a good one, keep it going from offsets.
How to plant
- Raise seed in pots or trays from September to December, about 6 mm deep, in warm conditions. Seed germinates in 10 to 21 days at 18 to 24°C.
- Plant seedlings, or offsets taken from an established plant, into compost-rich soil, at the same depth they were growing.
- Space plants about 60 to 90 cm apart in rows about 90 cm apart; give them a metre if you can.
- Water in well and keep watering through dry spells while they establish.
- Feed every two weeks with a liquid vegetable food in the first growing season.
Watering and feeding
Water deeply through dry spells, especially in spring when the buds are forming. Water the base of the plant, ideally early in the day, so the leaves dry before night, which helps keep disease away.
Feed with compost or a general fertiliser each spring as new growth starts, and mulch around the plant. Avoid piling mulch against the crown.
Pruning and care through the year
- Artichokes grow slowly and usually take more than a year to start cropping. Plants from seed can make a few buds in the first year but do better when cut back and carried over to the second.
- After harvest, cut the spent stems down to the base to keep the plant tidy and encourage new growth.
- Divide mature clumps every few years, roughly every five years at most, or replant strong offsets from around the edge, to keep plants vigorous.
Harvesting
Pick the buds from about October to January, while they are firm and tight, before the scales start to open. Cut the fat central bud first with a few centimetres of stem, then take the smaller side buds as they size up.
Buds left to open turn tough and inedible, and become large purple thistle flowers that bees love. Store picked artichokes unwrapped in the fridge for up to a week.
Growing in pots
Globe artichokes are big plants and are only worth growing in a very large container, about 1 m wide and at least 30 cm deep, filled with quality potting mix. Keep it well watered and fed.
Propagation and saving seed
The most reliable way to get more plants is from offsets, the young shoots that grow around the outside of an established clump. In spring, cut an offset away with some root attached and plant it straight into its new spot. Dividing whole clumps works the same way.
Companion planting
Globe artichokes are large and long lived, so they suit the edge of the vegetable garden or a border rather than the middle of a rotation bed.
Good companions
Pests and diseases
Artichokes are mostly trouble free. Aphids on the buds and slugs on young plants are the usual problems, and wet soil causes crown rot.
Pests to watch for
- Aphids Black or green clusters on the buds and stems, often with ants. Hose them off or squash them.
- Slugs Holes chewed in young leaves, worst in damp weather.
- Snails Chewed young leaves and slime trails, worst in damp weather.
Diseases to watch for
Common questions
When do I pick globe artichokes?
Pick the buds while they are firm and tightly closed, before the scales start to open, usually from October to January. Cut the big central bud first with a little stem, then the side buds.
How long until a globe artichoke crops?
Usually in its second spring. Plants from seed can make a few buds in their first year, especially varieties such as Imperial Star, but most do better when cut back and carried over.
How big do globe artichokes get?
About 1 to 1.8 m tall and about a metre wide, so allow 90 cm to 1 m between plants.
Is a globe artichoke the same as a Jerusalem artichoke?
No. Globe artichoke is a thistle grown for its flower buds. Jerusalem artichoke is a sunflower grown for its tubers. They are unrelated.
How do I get more globe artichoke plants?
In spring, cut away offsets, the young shoots around the outside of an established plant, with some root attached, and plant them straight into their new spot. They come true to the parent, unlike seedlings.
Can I eat artichokes that have flowered?
Not really. Once the bud opens it turns tough and the hairy choke inside develops. Leave open flowers for the bees, or cut them for a vase.
Sources we checked: Yates NZ: How to grow artichokes; Kings Seeds NZ: Artichoke Green Globe; RHS: How to grow globe artichokes.