Globe Artichoke
A dramatic, architectural perennial that needs real space, mature plants can spread over a metre wide. The part eaten is the immature flower bud, harvested tight and firm before it starts to open; left on the plant, it opens into a large purple thistle-like flower that bees find very attractive. Productive for around three to five years before vigour declines and plants are best replaced.
- Sun
- full sun
- Water
- moderate
- Spacing
- 100cm
- Harvest
- Ready in about 0-1 years
- Difficulty
- intermediate
- Grows in
- Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
- Expected yield
- 8-12 buds per plant per season once established
- Cost to grow
- ~$10 NZD
- Grocery value
- ~$40 NZD
- Mature height
- 1.5m
- Evergreen
- No, deciduous
- Common diseases
- Root rot in poorly drained soil
- Common pests
- Aphids, Slugs and snails
When to plant by region
In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: September-October. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: October.
Growing stages
Planting & establishmentSpring, into well-drained, fertile soil
- Give plants real space to spread, at least a metre between them, as they grow into large, architectural clumps
- Choose a full-sun spot with free-draining, fertile soil
- Water regularly while roots establish through the first summer
Early growthFirst year
- Watch for slugs and snails on soft new growth close to the ground
- Aphids can cluster on developing stems and buds
- First buds are sometimes possible in the first year, but a proper harvest is usually the second year
Bud development & harvest
- Harvest buds while still tight and firm, before the scales start to loosen and open
- Left unharvested, a bud opens into a large purple thistle-like flower that bees find very attractive
- Cut buds with a short length of stem attached, working from the top of the plant down
Maturity & renewal
- Cut spent flower stalks back after harvest to encourage further buds through the season
- Productivity typically declines after three to five years, so plan to divide or replace older plants
- Divide offsets from the base of established plants to propagate new ones