Growing an artichoke from seeds

You can even grow an artichoke in your country house in Russia. This exotic plant has long been eaten, it is famous for its balanced composition, which includes a large amount of nutrients and useful substances such as calcium, phosphorus, vitamins C, B and P.

Where artichoke grows in Russia

It is possible to grow an artichoke in a country house in Russia in places with a southern, warm climate, such as the Krasnodar Territory and the North Caucasus. In the south and in some regions of the middle zone of the Russian Federation, the culture is grown as a perennial, and it calmly survives the winter in a good shelter.

In central Russia, due to recurrent frosts and sudden temperature fluctuations, even in summer, thermophilic artichokes are often planted in the country in greenhouses or cultivated as an annual plant. Experienced gardeners know how to grow a vegetable even in the harsh climatic conditions of the Urals and Siberia.

How artichoke grows

The artichoke is a perennial herb belonging to the Astrov family. Sicily is considered his homeland, but they knew about the intricacies of growing vegetables in Ancient Greece and Egypt.

In appearance, the artichoke looks like a thistle, it is not for nothing that the plants are considered close relatives. The vegetable differs from thistle in larger flowers that grow in the form of baskets, the diameter of which reaches about 20 cm.The inflorescences of a round or conical shape are surrounded by multiple scales, in the upper part the color has a lilac-blue tint. Flowers have a lot of useful properties, are grown by gardeners in their dachas and are widely used in cooking.

The artichoke has large and wide carved leaves up to 50 cm long, pubescent white hairs below. Its feathery foliage at the end of the stem forms a powerful basal rosette, the bush reaches a height of 1.5 m. Stems are branched, dark green in color. The roots are long, thick and strong. The fruit is an achene with oblong seeds inside.

This vegetable grows in the country as follows: first, a rosette is formed from horizontally growing leaves. At the same time, the total volume of foliage reaches 1.5 m. Closer to the second week of August, a single peduncle forms in the center, which later becomes branching. Subsequently, the first basket-buds appear at the end of the peduncle. Fruit ripening, depending on the variety, occurs in August or September.

In total, there are 10 varieties of plants in nature, but only a few of them can be grown in the country and eaten:

• Cardone - wild-growing Spanish artichoke, the length of which reaches 2 m. In cooking, only leaves and stems are mainly used;
  
• Spiny artichoke which can be grown in the country in regions with a warm climate as a vegetable crop.They eat the fleshy core of unblown inflorescences, roots and petals;
  

Is it possible to grow an artichoke in the garden

All over the world, artichokes are known for their taste and nutritional properties. Even in pre-revolutionary Russia, gardeners were famous for their ability to grow this culture in difficult climatic conditions. Subsequently, this unusual vegetable was even sold to neighboring countries.

In the southern regions, the plant is propagated by dividing the rhizomes, so that the crop ripens in July. In temperate climates, artichoke can also be grown through seedlings. In this case, the ripening of the crop should be expected only towards the end of August.

It will not be difficult to grow an artichoke at home in your own dacha, the main thing is to adhere to the recommendations described in the article.

First of all, you need to choose a suitable variety, determine the timing of planting and familiarize yourself with the features of agricultural technology.

How to grow an artichoke from seeds at home

When choosing seeds, great attention should be paid to the early maturity of the variety; for convenience, the table below is given.

When to plant an artichoke from seed

Planting artichoke seeds of early maturing varieties for seedlings for summer cottages begins with the onset of March. Preliminary preparation is recommended from mid-February, leaving 3-4 weeks in stock.

The vegetation process of the plant takes on average from 180 to 200 days, therefore, the cultivation of an artichoke in the country in most regions of Russia is carried out exclusively using the seedling method.

Preparation of soil and planting tanks

You can grow artichoke seedlings for giving by planting seeds in wooden boxes or containers. As a soil, it is best to prepare a fertile mixture using turf, humus and river sand in equal proportions. All components must be thoroughly mixed with each other and moistened.

Seed preparation

To grow strong seedlings for giving and increase seed germination, they must first be prepared before planting:

1. Soak the seeds for a day, immersing them in a container with settled water at room temperature.
2. Transfer to a damp gauze cloth and leave for 5 - 6 days for germination at a temperature of 22 - 25 ^oC.
3. A week after the seeds germinate, it is necessary to transfer them to a cool place for hardening for 2 - 3 weeks, for which the lower shelf of the refrigerator is perfect.

Rules for planting artichoke seeds

Planting artichoke seedlings for a summer residence is not difficult, the main thing is to adhere to the following seed sowing algorithm:

1. Pour drainage on the bottom of the selected container with a layer of several centimeters to avoid stagnation of excess liquid.
2. Lay out a layer of the prepared fertile mixture, leaving about ¼ of it unused.
3. Form landing pits 1.5 cm deep, maintaining a distance of 4-5 cm.
4. Put the seeds in them, trying not to damage the sprouts, which have stretched by this time by 0.5 - 1 cm. Sprinkle with a layer of the remaining earth, no more than 1 cm thick.
5. Moisten the soil by spraying from a spray bottle.
6. Place the container in a warm, well-lit place out of direct sunlight. Seedlings can even be grown on a windowsill.
7. The seedlings do not need shelter with film or glass.

Artichoke seedling care

Within a few days after planting, sprouts will begin to appear. After 10 - 14 days, the formation of the first true leaf ends, after which the temperature in the room is reduced to +15 ^oC, this allows you to grow stronger seedlings for summer cottages and prepare them for a not always mild and warm climate.

To avoid excessive stretching of the sprouts upward, it is necessary to provide them with good, uniform lighting.

After the formation of several leaves, the seedlings are picked into separate containers, which should be spacious, with a volume of at least 500 ml. For a transplant you will need:

1. Fill the pots with the nutrient mixture, make holes in the center, and water lightly.
2. To remove plants from the common container, the soil must be abundantly moistened. Then, with caution, one at a time, pull out the sprouts, pinching the end of the very central root. So the rhizome will develop better.
3. Plant the bushes in separate pots, water abundantly and place on a windowsill in a warm and lighted place.

Seedlings need regular watering as the soil dries out. After 2 weeks, the first feeding is made with mullein infusion, which is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. After another 2 weeks, the bushes are fed with complex mineral fertilizers.

After fertilizing, the seedlings begin to harden and prepare for transplantation to the country. In warm and calm weather, she is taken out into the street for several hours. The time spent in the fresh air is gradually increased to 10 hours, not forgetting to cover the sprouts from rain and exposure to direct sunlight. This will allow the seedlings to grow stronger.

Below is a photo of growing artichoke seedlings.

Planting and caring for an artichoke outdoors

Growing and caring for an artichoke, contrary to popular belief, is not a difficult process. In a properly selected dacha area, the plant will actively bear fruit and bloom. To grow a vegetable, first you need to familiarize yourself with the features of agricultural techniques for growing an artichoke in the open field.

Optimal growing conditions for artichoke

For full growth and development in the country, one plant will need at least 1 sq. m of area and fertile soil layer at least 50 cm deep. If you try to grow an exotic vegetable in poorly prepared soil, its flowering may never start.

An artichoke cannot be grown in a country house in lowlands and shaded places. Too dense soil can also slow down the growth and flowering of the plant. Northern winds, high groundwater levels are completely destructive for the artichoke. Its roots penetrate deeply into the ground and begin to rot with excess moisture. Tall fences, trees, and other, especially bindweed, plants should not be located near the planting site.

The vegetable grows well and develops at temperatures from +15 to +25 ^oC. In spring, young seedlings are able to withstand cold snaps up to -3 ^oC. In autumn, the temperature of -1 will be critical for inflorescences. ^oC. In a mild winter, artichoke roots can easily tolerate frosts down to -10 ^oC. Seeds can be kept at zero temperature during germination for no more than 1 month.

With insufficient watering, the growth of the plant stops, its inflorescences become small, the receptacle coarsens.

How to plant an artichoke correctly

Seedlings are planted in open ground in late May or early June, 2 months after planting the seeds. After the retreat of the last spring frosts, the soil should have time to warm up thoroughly, and the weather should become steadily warm.

There are two ways to grow an artichoke in the country, depending on the purpose of planting. If the cultivation pursues only decorative purposes, then the location should be chosen clearly visible, with a convenient approach. The artichoke can be grown along driveways, on front lawns, or in open areas in the garden.

How to grow an artichoke in the country for decorative purposes:

1. Dig planting holes 50 cm deep and about 80 cm in diameter.The distance between the pits should be approximately 1.5 m.
2. Fill the holes with a 1: 1 mixture of turf and compost.
3. Plant the seedlings together with an earthen clod, water and mulch with dry grass.

If the vegetable is planned to be grown in the country for further consumption, in this case, a more thorough approach is needed.

1. Preparatory procedures should be carried out in the fall, for this, the beds are dug up and brought in a bucket of humus per 1 sq. m.
2. A week before planting, the earth must be dug deep again, fertilizer consisting of 200 g of superphosphate, 40 g of calcium sulfate and 10 kg of humus per 1 sq. m.
3. Form beds about 20 cm high at a distance of 1 m from each other, prepare the same planting holes as for growing for decorative purposes, fill them with a nutrient mixture of soil.
4. Place seedlings in the pits along with a clod of earth, water abundantly and mulch.

Watering and feeding

After planting in the country, the seedlings are thoroughly watered until they finally take root. When the plant adapts a little, it is fed with manure for the first time.

Artichoke in the country requires regular watering, especially during drought periods. It is important not to overdo it with the amount of water: per 1 sq. m. use about 7 liters of liquid. Watering should be more rare and moderate during flowering.

In order to grow a bountiful harvest of vegetables in the country, over the entire summer period, feeding is done 3-4 times. Both organic and mineral fertilizers are suitable as top dressing. Optimal for giving is considered to be the alternation of watering with manure (at the rate of 0.5 - 1 liter per 1 bush) and spraying with a solution, which includes:

• 1 part superphosphate;
• 1 part potassium chloride;
• 2.5 parts of wood ash.

Weeding and loosening

Weeding the artichoke on time is also important. The beds in the country are weeded as they appear weeds: this is necessary so that they do not suck out nutrients from the soil, thereby depleting the soil.

The soil around the plants is regularly loosened to make it lighter and more airy.

Yield improvement measures

There are several ways to increase artichoke yields.

1. To grow large vegetables in the country, no more than 4 flowers are left on one plant, all the rest must be cut and thrown away.
2. A couple of weeks before ripening, the stems under the baskets are carefully pierced with a toothpick.
3. Helps in stimulating flowering and creating artificial drought prior to fruiting.

Preparing for winter

Only in the southern regions can the artichoke be grown in the country as a perennial plant. To do this, after the end of flowering, watering should be gradually reduced, preparing the artichokes for winter. If in the future it is planned to independently harvest the seeds, several inflorescences are left on the plant and give them time to fully ripen.

During cold winters, even in warm southern climates, the roots can freeze out, and in damp weather with frequent thaws, they rot. And therefore, when growing a vegetable such as an artichoke, preparation for wintering in the country should be done with special care.

Before the arrival of frost, the central stem is cut off, the main deciduous mass is removed, and the bed is covered with a dense layer of peat or earth at least 20 cm thick.After that, a shelter is built from fallen leaves or straw and covered with spruce branches. During thaws, it is partially raised, and during cold snaps to sub-zero temperatures, it is returned to its place. It will be possible to completely remove the shelter only in mid-April.

In central Russia, it will not be possible to grow a perennial artichoke in the country, because its roots die at temperatures below -10 ^oC.

How to grow an artichoke in a greenhouse

In order to grow healthy artichokes in the country in a greenhouse, plants need to provide additional artificial lighting. This can be done using fluorescent and phytolamps with a capacity of no more than 54 watts. The rest of the cultivation in a greenhouse differs little from the traditional method.

Sometimes seedlings are grown in this way in greenhouse conditions. Sowing seeds in a greenhouse is carried out in early spring, after the appearance of 2 - 3 first leaves, the plant is planted in open ground.

Features of growing artichokes in different regions of Russia

Many gardeners are trying to grow such an exotic culture as an artichoke in the country. When planting, it is important to take into account that for each region of Russia, the cultivation process will have a number of features. Many factors depend on climate, rainfall and winter temperatures.

How to grow an artichoke in the suburbs

The method of growing an artichoke in the Moscow region depends on the area in which the crop is supposed to be cultivated. In the southern regions, you can grow artichokes that will calmly endure the winter in the country in a shelter.

In the northern part of the Moscow region, planting and caring for an artichoke is somewhat different. In the first year, the plant rarely produces a good harvest. In the fall, before the onset of frost, the artichoke stems are removed from the ground, the outer foliage is cut off, leaving only the central young leaf and roots. Throughout the winter, it is stored in this form on a shelf in a cellar or basement.

How to grow an artichoke in Siberia

Growing an artichoke in a country house in Siberia can only be carried out by seedlings as an annual plant. Severe Siberian frosts can destroy the plant even in autumn.

To grow an artichoke in a country house in Siberia using seedlings, seeds begin to germinate no later than February.

For more information on growing and cleaning artichokes, see the video:

How to grow an artichoke in the Urals

Growing an artichoke in the country is possible in the Urals. Preference should also be given to the seedling method. The method of hardening seedlings, described in the article, will help to strengthen the seedlings in advance before planting in open ground.

Some gardeners of the Urals grow an artichoke in a greenhouse at their dacha. For the plants to be comfortable, it must be spacious and well-lit.

Harvesting and storage

The indicators of the ripeness of the artichoke baskets are the upper scales: when they begin to bend outward, the vegetable is considered fully ripe and can be cut off.

The maturation of the baskets is uneven, therefore, as a rule, the harvest continues to be harvested until frost. When blue petals appear on the tops of the inflorescences, the vegetable becomes unusable.

It is necessary to store cut artichokes for no more than a month at a temperature of 0 ^oC. The remaining crop can be frozen.

Reproduction

You can grow an artichoke in the country in the southern regions by sowing seeds in open ground. In other climatic conditions, gardeners prefer propagation by seedlings or vegetative propagation.

When choosing a vegetative method in the fall, the most powerful bushes need to be dug up, placed in a box, sprinkled with dry peat, and taken to a cellar or basement. Approximately in the first half of May, the shoots that have formed during the winter are cut off with a small part of the roots and the plant is planted in a bulk container for rooting at room temperature. The artichoke is planted in a permanent place after 20 - 25 days.

Artichoke pests and diseases

Most often, the vegetable is affected by the following diseases and pests:

1. Sunflower moth - a butterfly laying eggs near the inflorescences. The caterpillars that were born, penetrating into the shell of the baskets, damage it. For prevention, it is necessary to get rid of weeds in a timely manner and loosen the soil in the aisles.Nests with insects are removed, the affected parts of the artichoke are burned.
2. Black aphid, which moves to artichokes from other plants. Aphids suck sap from foliage and inflorescences. Spraying with phytoncidal broth will help to get rid of it.
3. Black rot - a fungal disease, leading to the drying up of young shoots and the appearance of dark brown spots on adult plants. In most cases, it is impossible to save the affected bush; it must be removed and burned. A preventive measure is the disinfection of seeds before planting.

Conclusion

Growing an artichoke in the country will not be difficult. With careful observance of agricultural technology, the plant will begin to delight with its abundant harvest already in the first year after planting. Delicate artichoke baskets have a juicy pulp and are appreciated by gourmets for their high taste.

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