Growing artichoke from seed

You can grow an artichoke in the country even in Our Country. This exotic plant has long been eaten, it is famous for its balanced composition, which includes a large number of nutrients and nutrients, such as calcium, phosphorus, vitamins C, B and P.

Where does the artichoke grow in Our Country?

You can grow an artichoke in a country house in Our Country in places with a southern, warm climate, such as the Krasnodar Territory and the North Caucasus. In the south and in some regions of the central zone of the Federation, the culture is grown as a perennial, and it calmly survives the winter in a good shelter.

In central Our Country, due to return frosts and sharp temperature fluctuations, even in summer, heat-loving artichokes are often planted in greenhouses in the country or cultivated as an annual plant. Experienced gardeners know how to grow a vegetable even in the harsh climatic conditions of the Urals and Siberia.

How does an artichoke grow?

The artichoke is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. Sicily is considered its homeland, but the intricacies of growing a vegetable were known back in Ancient Greece and Egypt.

In appearance, the artichoke is similar to thistles; it is not for nothing that the plants are considered close relatives. The vegetable differs from the thistle in larger flowers that grow in the form of baskets, the diameter of which reaches about 20 cm. The round or conical inflorescences are surrounded by multiple scales, in the upper part the color has a lilac-blue hue. Flowers have a large number of useful properties, are grown by gardeners in summer cottages and are widely used in cooking.

The artichoke has large and wide carved leaves up to 50 cm long, pubescent with white hairs below. Its pinnate foliage at the end of the stem forms a powerful basal rosette, the bush reaches a height of 1,5 m. The stems are branched, dark green in color. The roots are long, thick and strong. The fruit is an achene with oblong seeds inside.

This vegetable grows in the country as follows: first, a rosette is formed from horizontally growing leaves. At the same time, the total volume of foliage reaches 1,5 m. Closer to the second week of August, a single peduncle forms in the center, which later becomes branching. Subsequently, the first basket buds appear at the end of the peduncle. Fruit ripening, depending on the variety, occurs in August or September.

In total, 10 varieties of plants are found in nature, but only a few of them can be grown in the country and eaten:

• Cardboard – a wild-growing Spanish artichoke, the length of which reaches 2 m. In cooking, only leaves and stems are used;

  

• Spiny artichoke, which can be grown in the country in regions with a warm climate as a vegetable crop. The fleshy core of unblown inflorescences, roots and petals are used for food;

  

Is it possible to grow an artichoke in the garden

Artichokes are known all over the world for their taste and nutritional properties. Even in pre-revolutionary Our Country, gardeners were famous for their ability to grow this crop in difficult climatic conditions. Subsequently, this unusual vegetable was even sold to neighboring countries.

In the southern regions, the plant is propagated by dividing the rhizomes, due to which the crop ripens in July. In a temperate climate, you can grow an artichoke through seedlings. In this case, the crop should be expected to ripen only towards the end of August.

Growing an artichoke at home in your own dacha is not difficult, the main thing is to follow the recommendations described in the article.

First of all, you need to choose a suitable variety, decide on the timing of planting and familiarize yourself with the features of agricultural technology.

How to grow an artichoke from seeds at home

When choosing seeds, great attention should be paid to the precocity of the variety; for convenience, the table below is given.

When to Plant an Artichoke from Seed

Planting seeds of early-ripening artichoke varieties for seedlings for summer cottages begins with the onset of March. Preliminary preparation is recommended from mid-February, leaving 3-4 weeks in stock.

The vegetation process of a plant takes an average of 180 to 200 days, so the cultivation of artichokes in the country in most regions of Our Country is carried out exclusively using the seedling method.

Preparation of soil and planting containers

You can grow artichoke seedlings for summer cottages by planting seeds in wooden boxes or containers. As a soil, it is best to prepare a fertile mixture, using equal proportions of soddy soil, humus and river sand. All components must be thoroughly mixed and moistened.

Seed preparation

To grow strong seedlings for summer cottages and increase the germination of seeds, they must first be prepared before planting:

1. Soak the seeds for a day, immersing them in a container with settled water at room temperature.
2. Transfer to a damp gauze cloth and leave for 5-6 days for germination at a temperature of 22-25 ^oC.
3. A week after the seeds germinate, it is necessary to transfer them to a cool place for hardening for 2 to 3 weeks, for which the lower shelf of the refrigerator is perfect.

Rules for planting artichoke seeds

Planting artichoke seedlings for a summer residence is not difficult, the main thing is to adhere to the following algorithm for sowing seeds:

1. Pour drainage into the bottom of the selected container with a layer of several centimeters to avoid stagnation of excess liquid.
2. Lay out a layer of the prepared fertile mixture, leaving about ¼ of it unused.
3. Form landing holes 1,5 cm deep, maintaining a distance of 4-5 cm.
4. Put the seeds in them, trying not to damage the sprouts, which have stretched by this moment by 0,5 – 1 cm. Sprinkle with a layer of the remaining earth, no more than 1 cm thick.
5. Moisten the soil by spraying with a spray bottle.
6. Place the container in a warm, lit place, avoiding direct sunlight. Seedlings can be grown even on the windowsill.
7. Seedlings do not need shelter with film or glass.

Caring for artichoke seedlings

Within a few days after planting, sprouts will begin to appear. After 10-14 days, the formation of the first true leaf ends, after which the temperature in the room is reduced to +15 ^oC, this allows you to grow stronger seedlings for summer cottages and prepare them for a climate that is far from always mild and warm.

To avoid excessive stretching of the sprouts upwards, it is necessary to provide them with good, uniform lighting.

After the formation of several leaves, the seedlings are picked into separate containers, which must be spacious, with a volume of at least 500 ml. For a transplant you will need:

1. Fill the pots with nutrient mixture, make indentations in the center, lightly water.
2. To remove plants from a common container, the soil must be abundantly moistened. Then, carefully, one at a time, pull out the sprouts, pinching the end of the central root itself. So the rhizome will develop better.
3. Plant the bushes in separate pots, water abundantly and place on the windowsill, in a warm and lit place.

Seedlings need regular watering as the soil dries out. After 2 weeks, the first top dressing is made with mullein infusion, which is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. After another 2 weeks, the bushes are fed with complex mineral fertilizers.

After fertilizing, the seedlings begin to harden and prepare for transplanting to the country. In warm and calm weather, it is taken out into the street for several hours. The time spent outdoors is gradually increased to 10 hours, not forgetting to cover the sprouts from rain and exposure to direct sunlight. This will allow the seedlings to grow stronger.

Below is a photo of growing artichoke seedlings.

Planting and caring for artichokes outdoors

Growing and caring for an artichoke, contrary to popular belief, is a very simple process. In a properly selected garden plot, the plant will actively bear fruit and bloom. To grow a vegetable, first you need to familiarize yourself with the features of agricultural techniques for growing artichokes in the open field.

Optimal conditions for growing artichokes

For full growth and development in the country, one plant will need at least 1 sq. m of area and a fertile soil layer of at least 50 cm in depth. If you try to grow an exotic vegetable in poorly prepared soil, its flowering may never begin.

An artichoke cannot be grown in a country house in lowlands and shady places. Too dense soil can also slow down the growth and flowering of the plant. North winds, high groundwater levels are completely detrimental to the artichoke. Its roots penetrate deep into the ground and begin to rot with excess moisture. High fences, trees, and other plants, especially bindweed, should not be located near the planting site.

The vegetable grows well and develops in temperatures from +15 to +25 ^oC. In spring, young seedlings are able to withstand temperatures down to -3 ^oC. In autumn, temperatures of -1 will be critical for inflorescences ^oC. In mild winters, artichoke roots can easily endure frosts down to -10 ^oC. Seeds during germination can be kept at zero temperature for no more than 1 month.

With insufficient watering, plant growth stops, its inflorescences become small, and the receptacle coarsens.

How to plant an artichoke

Seedlings are planted in open ground at the end of May or at the beginning of June, 2 months after planting the seeds. After the retreat of the last spring frosts, the soil should have time to warm up thoroughly, and the weather should become steadily warm.

There are two ways to grow an artichoke in the country, depending on the purpose of planting. If cultivation pursues only decorative purposes, then the location should be chosen well-viewed, with a convenient approach. The artichoke can be grown along driveways, in front lawns, or in open areas in the garden.

How to grow an artichoke in the country for decorative purposes:

1. Dig planting holes 50 cm deep and about 80 cm in diameter. The distance between the holes should be about 1,5 m.
2. Fill the pits with a mixture of soddy soil and compost, taken in a 1: 1 ratio.
3. Plant seedlings together with an earthen clod, water and mulch with dry grass.

If the vegetable is planned to be grown in the country for further consumption, then a more thorough approach is needed.

1. Preparatory procedures should be carried out in the fall, for this the beds are dug up and a bucket of humus per 1 sq. m.
2. The earth a week before planting must be deeply dug again, fertilized, consisting of 200 g of superphosphate, 40 g of calcium sulfate and 10 kg of humus per 1 sq. m.
3. Form beds about 1 cm high at a distance of 20 m from each other, prepare the same planting pits as for growing for decorative purposes, fill them with a nutrient mixture of soil.
4. Place seedlings in the pits along with a clod of earth, water abundantly and mulch.

Watering and top dressing

After planting in the country, seedlings are carefully watered until they finally take root. When the plant adapts a little, it is fed with manure for the first time.

The artichoke in the country requires regular watering, especially during the drought period. It is important not to overdo it with the amount of water: per 1 sq. m. use about 7 liters of liquid. During flowering, watering should be more rare and moderate.

In order to grow a plentiful crop of vegetables in the country, for the entire summer period, top dressing is carried out 3-4 times. Both organic and mineral fertilizers are suitable as top dressing. Optimal for giving is considered to be the alternation of watering with manure (calculated as 0,5 – 1 l per 1 bush) and spraying with a solution, which includes:

• 1 part superphosphate;
• 1 part potassium chloride;
• 2,5 parts wood ash.

Weeding and loosening

Timely weeding for the artichoke is also important. The beds in the country are weeded as weeds appear: this is necessary so that they do not suck out nutrients from the soil, thereby impoverishing the soil.

The soil around the plants is regularly loosened, this makes it lighter and more airy.

Yield Improvement Measures

There are several ways to increase the yield of artichokes.

1. To grow large vegetables in the country, no more than 4 flowers are left on one plant, all the rest must be cut and thrown away.
2. A couple of weeks before ripening, the stems under the baskets are carefully pierced with a toothpick.
3. Helps in stimulating flowering and creating artificial drought before fruiting.

Preparation for winter

Only in the southern regions can the artichoke be grown in the country as a perennial plant. To do this, after the end of flowering, watering should be gradually reduced, preparing the artichokes for winter. If in the future it is planned to independently harvest seeds, several inflorescences are left on the plant and give them time to fully ripen.

During cold winters, even in warm southern climates, the roots can freeze, and in damp weather with frequent thaws, they rot. And therefore, when growing a vegetable such as an artichoke, preparation for wintering in the country should be done with great care.

Before the arrival of frosts, the central stem is cut off, the main deciduous mass is removed, and the bed is covered with a dense layer of peat or earth at least 20 cm thick. After that, a shelter is built from fallen leaves or straw and covered with spruce branches on top. During thaws, it is partially lifted, and when it gets colder to sub-zero temperatures, it is returned to its place. It will be possible to completely remove the shelter only in mid-April.

In central Our Country, it will not be possible to grow a perennial artichoke in the country, because its roots die at temperatures below -10 ^oC.

How to grow an artichoke in a greenhouse

In order to grow healthy artichokes in a country house in a greenhouse, plants need to be provided with additional artificial lighting. This can be done using fluorescent and phytolamps with a power of not more than 54 watts. Otherwise, growing in a greenhouse differs little from the traditional method.

Sometimes seedlings are also grown in this way in greenhouse conditions. Sowing seeds in a greenhouse is carried out in early spring, after the appearance of 2 – 3 first leaves, the plant is planted in open ground.

Features of growing artichokes in different regions of Our Country

Many gardeners are trying to grow such an exotic culture as the artichoke in the country. When planting, it is important to consider that for each region of Our Country, the growing process will have a number of features. Many factors depend on climate, rainfall and winter temperature.

How to grow an artichoke in the suburbs

The method of growing artichoke in the Moscow region depends on the area in which the crop is supposed to be cultivated. In the southern regions, you can grow artichokes that will calmly endure the winter in the country in a shelter.

In the northern part of the Moscow region, planting and caring for artichokes are somewhat different. In the first year, the plant rarely gives a good harvest. In autumn, before the onset of frost, the artichoke stalks are taken out of the ground, the outer foliage is cut off, leaving only the central young leaf and roots. During the winter, it is stored in this form on the shelf of the cellar or basement.

How to grow an artichoke in Siberia

Growing an artichoke in a dacha in Siberia can only be done in seedlings as an annual plant. Severe Siberian frosts can destroy the plant even in autumn.

To grow an artichoke in a dacha in Siberia using seedlings, seeds begin to germinate no later than February.

For more information on growing and cleaning artichokes, see the video:

How to grow an artichoke in the Urals

Growing an artichoke in the country is also possible in the Urals. Preference should also be given to the seedling method. The seedling hardening method described in the article will help to strengthen seedlings in advance before planting in open ground.

Some gardeners in the Urals grow artichokes in their dachas in a greenhouse. For the plants to be comfortable, it must be spacious and well lit.

Harvesting and storage of crops

The indicators of the ripeness of the artichoke baskets are the upper scales: when they begin to bend outwards, the vegetable is considered fully ripe and can be cut.

The ripening of the baskets is uneven, therefore, as a rule, the crop continues to be harvested until frost. When blue petals appear on the tops of the inflorescences, the vegetable becomes unfit for consumption.

Cut artichokes should be stored for no more than a month at a temperature of 0 ^oC. The remaining crop can be frozen.

Reproduction

You can grow an artichoke in a country house in the southern regions by sowing seeds in open ground. In other climatic conditions, gardeners prefer propagation by seedlings or vegetatively.

When choosing a vegetative method in the fall, the most powerful bushes need to be dug up, placed in a box, sprinkled with dry peat, and taken to a cellar or basement. Approximately in the first half of May, the shoots formed during the winter are cut off with a small part of the roots and the plant is planted in a bulk container for rooting at room temperature. The artichoke is planted in a permanent place after 20-25 days.

Pests and diseases of the artichoke

Most often, the vegetable is affected by the following diseases and pests:

1. sunflower moth – a butterfly that lays eggs near the inflorescences. The caterpillars that were born, penetrating into the shell of the baskets, damage it. For prevention, it is necessary to get rid of weeds in a timely manner and loosen the soil between the rows. Nests with insects are removed, the affected parts of the artichoke are burned.
2. black aphid, which migrates to artichokes from other plants. Aphids suck juice from leaves and inflorescences. Spraying with a volatile decoction will help get rid of it.
3. Black rot – a fungal disease that leads to the drying of young shoots and the appearance of dark brown spots on adult plants. In most cases, it is impossible to save the affected bush, it must be removed and burned. A preventive measure is the disinfection of seeds before planting.

Conclusion

Growing an artichoke in the country is not difficult. With careful observance of agricultural technology, the plant will begin to delight with its abundant harvest in the first year after planting. Delicate artichoke baskets have juicy pulp and are valued by gourmets for their high taste.

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