Grow artichokes anywhere, even in northern gardens. This variety is so pretty it is also grown as an ornamental! Golden Globe has a uniform plant size, reduced spines, high yield & WONDERFUL flavor! Plants grow up to 6 feet tall with silver-green leaves. Edible flower buds (chokes) grow to 3 or 4 inches, are green in color, and are made up of thick fleshy scales and solid centers (hearts).
Young plants produce their best heads in the second year of cropping and become more prolific each year. Provide plenty of room and fertile soil and you'll be rewarded with 3 to 5 fresh, delicious artichokes per plant in the first year. Perennial in USDA zones 7-10. In cold climates, grow as an annual.
According to historians, this member of the thistle family originated in the Mediterranean region and was especially popular in Sicilian and North African cuisine. Eventually the artichoke migrated to Italy, and when the famous Italian Catherine de Medici moved to France in 1533 to be the queen of Henry II, she took her passion for artichokes with her. Her appetite for this vegetable scandalized the people of her day, as the artichoke was considered an aphrodisiac and only eaten by men.
In time, artichokes became a culinary delight only afforded by the elite. The French brought this vegetable to Louisiana, while two Italian brothers introduced it to California. California still produces nearly all of the United States' supply of artichokes, with Castroville, CA being named as the Artichoke Capital of the World. Green Globe, first appearing in catalogs in 1863, is a favorite of commercial growers.
• Scroll down for detailed growing info •
All Nimble NiteCap Seeds are:
• Heirloom
• Organic
• Non-GMO
• Open Pollinated
• Untreated
• US Grown
• growing instructions included
• Regular testing is conducted to uphold the highest germination standards, all the while employing appropriate seed storage techniques.
Sustainable Packaging & Shipping:
• NimbleNitecap seeds are packed in eco-friendly, compostable seed packets. Seed packets are printed in house with vegetable-based inks on biodegradable, recycled materials. (Small plastic bags are infrequently used to prevent the loss of very small seeds.)
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• DIRECTIONS •
~ sowing ~
Stratify seeds by putting them in damp sand in the fridge for 2 weeks. Then germinate seeds indoors 8-12 weeks before last frost. Plant them 1/4" deep, in 4" pots, and keep the seedlings at a temperature of 60-70 degrees. Once they grow several leaves, expose them to temperatures lower than 50 degrees F for at 12-20 days; this process, called vernalization, acts as a false "winter" that enhances the growing process.
Transplant the seedlings outside two weeks after the last spring frost. Space them 48" apart in rows 64" apart. Direct sowing the seeds outside after last frost also is an option, though it takes the plants longer to mature. Artichokes can also be fall planted, especially in warmer climates, since artichokes thrive in cool weather.
Days to Emerge: 14 days
Seed Depth: ¼"
Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 4'
Row Spacing: 6'
Thinning: Thin to 1 every 4'
Days to Maturity: 150-210 days
When to Sow Outside:
Cold Climates: Not recommended.
Mild Climates: Sow in fall for harvest the following spring.
~growing ~
Take care to keep the young plants moist at all times and surrounded with mulch, compost, or straw. If fungus begins to form because of too much humidity, cut back on the water, and remove the affected leaves at once. Buds should begin to form about 120 days after transplanting, depending upon the climate.
To overwinter this plant in warmer climates such as zone 7 and above, cover it thickly with mulch. Prevent excess moisture, as this often causes artichokes to die over winter. In zone 6 and colder, it will be necessary to dig up the plants by the roots, cut the stem to 3", and store them with the roots protected in a cool place until spring. Replant them after the last frost.
~ harvesting ~
If planted soon enough in the spring in warmer climates, artichokes might produce a small crop before fall. Harvest them before the petals of the choke begin to open, and the size reaches about 4". Cut the heads with about 3" of the stem attached. Use immediately for the freshest flavor, or keep refrigerated for up to five days.
