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Vegetable

Globe artichoke

Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus · also Artichoke

A big, silver-leaved perennial that crops for about four years and suits Adelaide's Mediterranean climate well. Plant suckers or named plants in late autumn to winter, and pick the buds in spring. Its spiny wild relative is a declared weed in SA, so cut buds before they flower and go to seed.

When to plant where you live

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Planting times for other areas

Varieties (2)

  • Green GlobeThe standard green artichoke; reliable and widely sold
  • Purple RomanescoPurple-tinged, tender buds; often sold as suckers

Neighbours

Grows well with

From seed to plate

  1. Plant

    120 cm apart, rows 150 cm. Full sun.

  2. Water

    Deep water in spring; less once it dies back in summer.

  3. Feed

    Compost and manure each autumn.

  4. Pick, from about 21 weeks

    Cut tight buds with some stem.

Good to know

  • Grow from suckers or named plants; seed-grown plants vary a lot and can revert to a spiny wild form
  • Harvest buds while still tight, before the scales open or change colour
  • After cutting a bud, cut the stem back by about half
  • Divide and replant suckers every second or third year in late autumn
  • Do not let buds open and set seed; wild artichoke is a declared weed in SA

Common problems

  • Crown rot in wet, heavy soilplant in well-drained soil or a raised bed
  • Aphids on buds and stemshose off, encourage ladybirds
  • Snails and slugs on new shoots in autumnhand pick at night
  • Plants decline after 4 to 5 yearsreplace with fresh suckers

If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.

Ask the garden helper about globe artichokeAny question, answered from the plant libraryHow others are growing globe artichokeQuestions, tips and harvests from the community

Wildlife

Good for: bees.

Where this information comes from

Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 29 Oct 2026. Version 1.