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- Are artichokes perennial?
- Artichoke: Perennial only with good winter protection
- The alternative: digging out
Artichokes bloom for up to five years
Are artichokes perennial?
Although artichokes originate from the warm Mediterranean, they are more and more common in our country today. But does flowering flourish perennially in cool Central Europe? Find out!
Artichoke grow at least once a year, sometimes several times up to two feet high flower stems, on top of which the artichoke bud thrives. In fact, we eat the flower food, which is why the artichoke is counted as a flowering vegetable.
Under favorable conditions, a spikenard can be up to five years old, so it thrives in principle several years.
Artichoke: Perennial only with good winter protection
The artichoke is not used to frost due to its warm country of origin and does not survive Central European winter without protection.
In preparation for the winter, dried up inflorescences and foliage are removed before the first frost. The leaves are cut down to about five cm above the ground. Then a warm blanket is mixed against the frost. For that you mix sand with
Apply a layer about 20cm thick and put it on top of the artichoke. Place about 10cm thick brushwood on the pile of sand.
The alternative: digging out
If your artichoke is to thrive for several years, you can dig it out for safety as well. This is especially recommended when a very long or very cold winter is expected. To do this, dig up the artichoke in the fall, cut down the leaves and flowers, and clean the roots of the soil as much as possible. Then pour your artichoke into a planter with drainage and fill it with sand. Then store your artichoke in the basement or in another cool place at about 15 ° C.
Remember to water your artichoke from time to time, even in winter, so that the root does not dry out.
Learn here how to best practice planting your artichoke in spring.