As a gardening enthusiast, I’m always looking to grow unique and tasty plants. Recently, I became fascinated with artichokes after tasting them in a restaurant. These unusual flowering veggies have a fantastic nutty flavor that made me want to grow them myself.
But I knew artichokes can be particular about their growing conditions. One key factor is sunlight – how much light does an artichoke plant really need to thrive? I did some digging to find the answer.
For those who haven’t grown them before, artichokes are not your average vegetable. They’re actually the immature flower buds of the artichoke plant before the flowers open fully. The edible portion is primarily the compact, fleshy bracts that envelope the central heart.
There are a few types of artichokes, but most fall into either the ‘Green Globe’ or ‘Violetta’ varieties. Green globes have the classic green coloring, while violettas have hints of purple. Both make for a unique, tasty addition to gardens and dinner plates!
Artichokes grow from three to six feet tall, forming clumps of arching leaves. They thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-10, preferring cool, coastal climates similar to their native Mediterranean region.
Now that we know what artichokes are, let’s look at their ideal lighting conditions.
Artichokes Need Full Sun (Mostly)
When it comes to sunlight for artichokes the magic number is full sun. This means roughly six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day. Anything less will result in weak stunted growth.
Artichokes form dense foliage, but it’s fairly open and doesn’t provide much self-shade. Plant them where they’ll get sun exposure across the majority of the day. Morning sun is particularly important, as it dries dew from the leaves to prevent fungal diseases.
Some gardening resources recommend moving artichoke plants to partial shade in hot summer climates. However, from my experience in Zone 9B, even four hours of morning sun is enough for artichokes to flourish through July and August heat.
The only exception is newly transplanted seedlings, which may need a bit of protection as they establish roots. But mature plants tolerate full exposure quite well.
Other Lighting Factors to Consider
In addition to duration of sun exposure, a couple other lighting factors come into play when siting artichoke plants.
Reflected Light
Place lighter colored materials around your artichoke plants, like gravel mulch or light patio pavers. This reflects more sunlight onto the plants.
Filtered Light
Avoid planting near trees and shrubs that will screen out too much sun as they leaf out. Prune encroaching branches.
Artificial Light
If your space genuinely lacks sun, you can supplement with grow lights. LED full spectrum bulbs work well for artichokes.
Signs Your Artichokes Aren’t Getting Enough Light
It’s easy to tell if your artichoke plant needs more sunlight. Here are a few clues:
- Smaller leaves and thinner stems
- Lack of flower bud formation
- Leggy growth that droops or falls over
- Wilting leaves even with adequate water
- Stunted plants that don’t mature properly
Luckily, artichokes are fairly forgiving if you correct the light levels in time. Introduce more sunlight and the plant will rebound quickly.
Maximizing Sunlight in Your Garden
If your artichokes seem hungry for sun, there are a few techniques to optimize light levels:
Move plants to the south side of your garden for maximum exposure. West-facing also works.
Space plants farther apart so they don’t shade each other. Artichokes need 3-4 feet between plants.
Prune back encroaching trees/shrubs to open the canopy.
Use reflective materials like white stones or light patio block to bounce light back up to plants.
Supplement with grow lights if all else fails. Go for full spectrum LED bulbs.
Frequency of Entities:
- let there be light how much light does artichoke plant need to thrive: 11
- https://livetoplant.com/let-there-be-light-how-much-light-does-artichoke-plant-need-to-thrive/: 1
- https://www.epicgardening.com/growing-artichokes/: 1
- https://bonnieplants.com/blogs/how-to-grow/growing-artichoke: 1
Raising Artichokes from Seed
The lure of home grown artichokes drives many to try growing their own. The truth is, artichokes are not an easy crop, they take up alot of room and the results are usually poor in most parts of the world. Those large, commercially grown green globe artichokes that many of us are familar are primarily grown in a coastal microclimate, the cool, Monterey coast of California for instance, just south of San Francisco, where most of our commercial artichokes come from.
You’ve undoubtedly seen artichoke seed for sale in seed catalogs, and I think many are curious about possibly growing a few, especially since they start with the letter ‘A’, I think I get more mail about How To Grow Artichokes than any other vegetable. Home grown plants can be rewarding, but one must follow directions strictly, as temperature is key throughout their life. There are times when artichokes want to be warm, and there are times when they want to be cold, and if you mess those periods up, you will just end up with nice, prickly thistle plants and never see a flower bud. Using some of the newer seed-raised varieties that have come into the market in the past decade or two. Don’t be discouraged, you can grow them -just follow these directions precisely, and as late January and early February (right now – go order them!) is the time to start, here I share how I grow mine.
| RootTrainer pots are great for tap-rooted plants like artichokes |
Artichokes are true perennials, even the ones sold as ‘New Annual Forms’ are, but the difference between named varieties is important if you live in most of the northern US. Forget about growing the so-called heirloom varieties (the violet ones such as Purple of Romania, Violetta Precoce or the green variety Green Globe) as they are all warm weather varieties, and they will not perform well in northern gardens. You will need to seek out varieties that can be raised from early sown seed, and that will form buds within the same year. I suggest seeking out IMPERIAL STAR ( available from Johnny’s Selected Seeds and from Seeds of Change) as well as the purple variety OPERA ( also from Johnny’s). NOTE: If you want to grow Cardoons, this is also the time to sow your seedlings, following the same methods.
| RootTrainer pots can be tricky – since they do not lock, the pots fold up and retain their shape only if the entire flat is filled with pots. One must fit the entire set of pots into the tray before filling with soil. They unfold when you are ready to plant easily, which reduces root disturbance. |
In the past 15 years, new annual varieties of seed-raised Artichokes have been introduced for the home gardener ( primarily for those who live in the north), but before undertaking such a crop, there are a few things to note. First, artichokes require some homework on your part for there are specific needs which must be met – and most of these needs are based around temperature and timing. Seed must germinate at a certain temperature ( outlined at the end of this post), and something called ‘Vernalization’ ( a short, fake winter that you must expose young plants too in March or April), is essential, as it tricks the plants into thinking that it has passed through two springs, and that this year is the time to form flower buds. ( I am simplifing, but you get the idea – think ‘forcing bulbs’).
| Artichoke seeds are large, which makes them easy to sow. I presoak them for 24 -36 hours |
How to Grow Artichokes in ANY Climate
FAQ
Will artichokes grow in part shade?
How much sunlight do artichokes need?
Do artichoke plants like a lot of water?
Do artichoke plants like coffee grounds?
How much sun does an artichoke plant need?
Since it doesn’t tolerate shade well, give your artichoke plant full sun. However, if you live in an area with consistently hot temperatures, move it to a place with partial shade. Aim for a spot with at least six hours of sunlight per day, or four hours minimum in warmer climates. Your growing artichoke plant is going to need a lot of water.
Do artichokes need water?
They require consistent moisture but do not like to be in waterlogged soil. Artichokes can be started from seeds, from rooted shoots taken from growing plants, or from dormant roots. Start seeds indoors in late winter or early spring, about 8-10 weeks before planting outside.
How do you grow artichokes?
Artichokes are heavy feeders. For each plant, mix a shovel of compost or aged manure into the soil before planting. They require consistent moisture but do not like to be in waterlogged soil. Artichokes can be started from seeds, from rooted shoots taken from growing plants, or from dormant roots.
Can artichokes grow indoors?
Artichokes grow well in containers, an excellent solution for those in cold zones. You can also start the seeds indoors in mid-winter and then transplant them in the spring. Before planting, add some compost to your soil. Plant artichoke seeds half an inch deep and thin to six feet apart. Space transplants three to four feet apart.