Growing Artichokes in Zone 6

I'm sure I've mentioned before that part of the joy of gardening for me is being able to grow varieties of fruits and vegetables that are often difficult and even impossible at times to source locally. My potted Meyer lemon tree is one example. Then there are the artichokes, which to me just screams California. Indeed, you have to wonder how many food miles are involved annually in transporting this vegetable all around the country. And considering how little of the spiny flower bud is actually edible, in the end, is it really worth it?

Whenever someone visits my garden, they are usually most astonished to see artichokes growing. They often gasp, pause and then say something along the lines of "Wait, are those....artichokes?!" It always makes me smile for some reason. I seem to have an affinity for the exotic.

Admittedly, growing artichokes in our Zone 6 climate poses several challenges, the primary one being that the plant normally produces edible flower buds beginning in the second year. Unfortunately, artichoke plants generally are only hardy in Zone 7 or higher. The trick I've learned from reading Eliot Coleman's books is to start the seeds indoors in early February and provide the seedlings with 6 weeks of good lighting and warmth. Then they are moved to a location like a hoop house or cold frame where they are exposed to temperatures in the 40's and 50's F for at least another 6 weeks. This chilling period tricks the artichoke plant into believing that it has experienced winter, and hopefully coaxes it into sending up a flower stalk in mid-summer. As a result, gardeners in colder regions of the country can grow this plant as an annual and still reap a modest harvest.


I grew five 'Imperial Star' artichoke plants this year. As those of you who follow my blog may know, I tried starting a batch from seeds last winter only to have all but one of them succumb to aphids (originating from plants I'd purchased from an online nursery). The remaining four were purchased as healthy perfect-looking seedlings from a nearby nursery.

So how did my artichoke plants fair this summer? Ironically, the one I'd started from seed has provided me with 4 artichokes those far and will produce at least two more before our first frost. Out of the four seedlings I'd purchased, two have since sent up flower stalks and from these, I've harvested only two artichokes thus far. This leads me to believe that the seedlings I'd purchased were never exposed to the requisite chilling period or that they are of a different variety. I'm thinking it is the latter as the artichoke from these plants look and taste different from my 'Imperial Star'.

And how did they taste? The 'Imperial Star' variety is good but not great and I'd give the mystery plants (which I suspect are ordinary 'Green Globe' artichokes) a 9 out of 10. In any case, the challenge now will be to overwinter them in our cold climate. If I can do that, then next year should offer a bumper crop.