How to Grow Artichokes? Detailed Explanation of Planting Methods and Key Technical Points

Artichoke, also called cardoon or French lily, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Asteraceae family and also a plant used both as food and medicine. At present in our country it is mainly distributed in Taiwan, China, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Hunan and Yunnan, among other places. The market demand for artichoke is very large, but due to the scale of cultivation, it is in a market environment where supply falls short of demand. So do you know how to grow artichokes? Today, follow the editor to learn about the cultivation methods of artichokes.

1. Site Selection and Land Preparation

Artichoke is suitable for growing in a relatively mild environment, and has the characteristics of tolerating light frost, fearing drought and fearing heat. When choosing a planting site, we usually choose loam or clay soil with loose texture, sufficient soil fertility, abundant water resources, good soil permeability, good drainage and open terrain. Sandy soil and heavy clay soil are not suitable for growing artichokes. Deeply plow the soil and apply sufficient base fertilizer, then finally level the land and break up the soil clods finely before sowing.

2. Planting Methods

Artichokes are generally propagated by seed, though in some areas they are also propagated by division or by rhizomes. The optimal temperature for artichoke seed germination is 20 degrees, and the optimal temperature for plant growth is around 15 degrees. In addition, because the seed coat is relatively hard and thick, the seeds need to be soaked in warm water to promote germination before planting. Once the seeds have sprouted white shoots, they can be sown. When sowing, the sowing density should be controlled, and generally the distance between each plant should be kept at about 1 m. Finally, cover with soil to bury the seeds, cover with a layer of black plastic film, and wait until they emerge.

3. Field Management

After emergence, check the growth of the seedlings in the field, replant in time, and ensure a full stand of seedlings. Next, during the seedling growth period, control the amount of watering; the humidity in the field should not be too high, and generally keeping it at around 20 percent is sufficient. Also, control the temperature in the field; generally the maximum temperature should not exceed 34 degrees, and the minimum temperature should not be lower than 4 degrees, otherwise artichokes stop growing, affecting yield and quality. Also, carry out topdressing reasonably. When the seedlings grow to about 15 cm, apply an organic compound fertilizer once; when they just begin to flower, we can use an appropriate amount of manure and urine water to irrigate and promote the growth of flower buds; finally, after each harvest of buds, it is best to carry out one topdressing, which can ensure the yield of artichokes, generally mainly urea. Of course, we also need to note that after each topdressing, watering should be carried out reasonably, and at the same time drain promptly when there is too much water, so as to avoid unnecessary losses.

4. Overwintering Techniques

Since artichoke is a perennial herbaceous plant, preparations for overwintering and cold protection need to be made every winter to avoid affecting the yield of the coming year. If it is a region that is relatively mild all year round, then management can be the same as usual. But some regions have four distinct seasons, so in order to prevent artichokes from being damaged by freezing, in winter we cut off the residual flower stems at 10 cm below the soil surface, then level the soil, and finally cover the cut stems and leaves on top, which can effectively prevent artichokes from freezing.

5. Pest and Disease Control

The main disease of artichoke is root rot, which usually occurs in seasons with more rain. Of course, if we can manage water properly during cultivation, this disease can also be avoided. In the early stage of root rot, we can also use agricultural streptomycin sulfate for control. During the growth of artichokes, aphids run through its entire growth period, so control measures should be taken well, and dimethoate can generally be used for control. Finally, there is the harm of cutworms, which most often occurs around April. We can spray trichlorfon in advance, which can effectively prevent it.

Artichoke is a very scarce vegetable and medicinal material on the market, so many people do not know much about it, which also shows that its cultivation prospects are relatively large, and fellow growers may also consider it.