How many square feet do you give

for artichokes
Previously my artichokes were very large, I wonder if they fit in a square foot?

GWN wrote:for artichokes
Previously my artichokes were very large, I wonder if they fit in a square foot?

I would give one Globe Artichoke plant 9-12 sq. feet. My guess is that still would not be sufficient space...

My artichokes are in my "old school" sfg, with amended soil, and they definitely take 9 sq ft, plus in some regions they are perennials. Mine seem to be growing new plants next to the older ones. HUGE Because of the new stalks, the base is almost two feet across.

Wow! I had no idea they took so much space! I just had my first artichoke last fall, and was thinking about growing them. I think if I do, it will be in their own space!

The ones I have grown before were also huge, the tubers divide and you can split them each year and get many babies from them.
So if you are going to allow that much space for them, How much space would I need to fill with Mels Mix, the full 9 square feet?

I am not sure mine will get to be that big here, I moved to british columbia from oregon last year and am TRYING to overwinter them, but have also just in case planted several IMPERIAL artichokes, so that I can try to "trick them' into thinking it is their second year, by putting them in the cold for 2 weeks this spring. I guess that is the way to make them flower their first year.

How would you do the mels mix? and how deep?

I tried to grow some last year from seed, but that was a failure. When I was doing my research last year, I came to understand that these have taproots. I had decided that I was going to give them their own space out of the SFG and just amend the surrounding soil, as making so much Mel's mix for so little return was cost prohibitive. I still have not given up the hope of growing them in my region, and now I know where to find transplants. Good luck, let us know what you plan to do.

When I lived down on coastal oregon which was perhaps zone9.... never freezes but never gets warm...
They grew well, I was told to put lots of chicken manure in the soil because they are very heavy feeders. Then in EUgene oregon (where it DOES freeze.... perhaps zone 8a ) They grew like crazy, HUGE. That property had tons and tons of night crawlers, and so I think that the soil was exceptional, all by itself....

Last year up here, I amended the soil some, but did not actually apply chicken manure. I bought seedlings and they really did not thrive.
One flower. I currently have those ones covered up with very thick layers of straw, then a cattle panel then tarp. AND am waiting for spring to see if they survived. (My thinking was that it is the second year that they flower, that perhaps they will thrive this year)
I have about 12 of them in my greenhouse growing from seed, they seem to be doing well, I was thinking of planting these ones along the south side of my house, and over the septic tank, where the temp is just a weeeeee bit warmer. Will see how they do But I WILL give them 9 feet......