Artichoke Green Globe Heirloom Organic 20 Seeds

Description The artichoke is a cool weather perennial thistle plant in the Asteraceae (sunflower) family. Artichoke plants have long, arching leaves that are silver-green in color. A mature plant reaches a height of 4 feet with a width of 6 feet. Edible globe artichokes are harvested in the bud stage before the flower opens. The open flowers are purple in color and will grow up to a diameter of 7 inches if not harvested. The yield from the three or four plants should be quite enough for a small family's enjoyment. And once established an artichoke plant can remain productive for four to seven years. Globe artichokes prefer full sun and deep, fertile, well-drained soils high in organic matter. In limy areas, you may also add soil sulfur to temporarily lower alkalinity (pH). After the soil has been amended with compost, phosphorus fertilizer should also be placed about 8-10 inches deep to make it readily available to plant roots. Artichokes also require lots of moisture for maximum growth. They can survive drought, but will not produce well without consistent soil moisture. Seeds can be sown directly into the garden when soil is warm or started in containers and transplanted when several inches tall. Zones 3-10