How to Grow Artichoke in a Greenhouse: A Step-By-Step Guide for Seed to Harvest

The artichoke is a perennial herb from the Asteraceae family, whose flower buds are edible. It is grown for vegetable harvesting and as a garden decoration. Its silver-green leaves, growing on thick stems, look fascinating. Growing artichokes in a greenhouse provide them with the warmth and humidity they require for growth. They are delicious all year round if they are grown in a greenhouse.

How to Grow Artichoke in a Greenhouse

Artichoke Varieties Suitable for Growing in Greenhouse

Colorado Star	Purple Italian Globe
Emerald	Purple Romagna
Green Globe Improved	Tavor
Imperial Star

Soil Requirements for Growing Artichoke in Greenhouse

Even though artichokes are picky about water, they are relatively indifferent about soil type. They can grow in clay, loam, and sandy soils that drain well. However, the soil may drain too well if it is extremely sandy. Add organic matter to your soil, such as aged manure or compost, to promote water drainage and conserve moisture. Since these vegetables feed moderately to heavily, rich soil with plenty of organic matter is ideal. Their growth is also fairly flexible regarding soil pH, growing well in soils between 6.0 and 8.0.

Ideal Sunlight Conditions for Growing Artichoke in Greenhouse

Plants like artichokes can grow in partial to full sun, but they prefer at least six hours of full sun every day. To allow space for growth, it’s best to place them about four feet apart when planting. This sun-loving plant prefers to grow in south-facing beds.

Temperature Requirements for Growing Artichoke in Greenhouse

The optimum temperature for artichoke cultivation is 20-24°C during the day and 12 to 14°C at night. During the day, artichoke plants can tolerate temperatures of -3 to -5°C, but any temperature below 1°C harms them. It is common to trim back the foliage of plants in frost-prone areas during the fall to prevent frost damage and mulch heavily around them during the winter months. While mulching can make plants more tolerant of low temperatures, temperatures below -9°C can cause severe damage to any plant.

Growing Artichokes in Greenhouse

You can start them in seed flats with moistened potting mix and plant them 1/4 inch deep.
It usually takes 10-14 days for artichoke seeds to germinate in sunny locations with moist soil.
The seedlings should be transplanted into separate pots once they have emerged and reached 2-3 inches in height.
Plant your seedlings in holes dug deeper and wider than their pots. Loosen the soil around them and plant each seedling, ensuring its crown is leveled with the soil line.
Every transplant should be backfilled with soil and smoothed out.
You should water your transplants daily until they become established, and then continue to provide them with water as needed.

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Watering Requirements for Growing Artichoke in Greenhouse

In order to produce their delicious flower heads, artichokes need a lot of water. They require about one to two inches of water per week during their growing phase. You want to soak the root area thoroughly without creating puddles. Puddling indicates that the roots are no longer uptaking the moisture and that the soil is struggling to drain the excess water. If you have sandy soil, add mulch around the plants to keep them moist.

Fertilizer Requirements for Growing Artichoke in Greenhouse

If you want strong foliage and flower buds, you should apply two teaspoons of a high-nitrogen fertilizer once a month. These plants are heavy feeders and need lots of nitrogen. When watering your plants, you can use NPK liquid mixes such as 21-0-0 and 16-4-8 NPK liquid mixes, which contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. After transplanting, you can wait 3-4 weeks before fertilizing to prevent root burn on transplanted plants.

Mulching for Artichoke Plants Growing in Greenhouse

When your seedlings have a few true leaves on them, mulch them two to three inches thick, leaving a few inches bare around the crown. You can benefit from mulching your artichoke crop in several ways:

When the ground is covered, moisture can be conserved, preventing plants from drying out between waterings.
Mulch will also keep the ground cooler, greatly benefiting when growing these cool-season plants.
Finally, mulch can help you fight weeds by blocking sunlight, preventing weeds from growing.

Pests and Diseases in Artichoke

Artichoke plants can be harmed by sucking insects such as aphids, mites, scabs, and thrips. As well as transmitting diseases that can harm artichoke plants, these pests also slow down their growth rate. When some of the above pests are killing your artichoke plants, you can take several measures to eliminate them. First, spray water on the plant leaves in the morning to eliminate the insects. Then, if the infestation is truly out of control, you can use pesticides, such as horticultural soap or neem oil.

Several diseases can also affect the artichoke plant. In young plants, damping off is a common occurrence that causes them to wilt and eventually die. Powdery mildew and Botrytis fungus are other common diseases that affect the artichoke plant. Powdery mildew will create a white coating on the leaves, while Botrytis fungus will collapse the plant. The best method to prevent these diseases is to water your plants overhead and rotate crops.

Harvesting Artichokes

Depending on the variety, your climate and variety may allow you to harvest a crop in the spring, followed by another crop in the fall. Observe the cultivar and growing conditions to choose the best time to pick your plants. Watch the buds for the bracts to open and to pull away just a little from the bud before harvesting. They should still be tight before harvesting. Cut the stem about two inches above the bud using a sharp knife or garden snips when the time is right.

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Conclusion

Many dishes can be prepared using artichokes, whether they are raw or cooked. Artichokes are a vegetable that is generally grown in temperate climates, but with the right care, they can also be grown in greenhouses. Artichokes may be the right crop if you’re looking for a unique vegetable to grow in your greenhouse.

How to Grow Artichoke in a Greenhouse: A Step-By-Step Guide for Seed to Harvest