Can anyone tell me????

How deep an artichoke root goes? I am in zone 9 b. I am think of putting 2 plants in a 4x6x8 box to match my other sfg. I will dig deeper than the 8 in. I just need to know how deep. Thanks

Mike :scratch:

I googled it and one site said a min of 6". http://plants.findthedata.org/q/997/3526/How-deep-do-Jerusalem-Artichoke-Helianthus-tuberosus-plant-roots-grow

I think several members on here successfully grow artichokes in their SFGs and I would be surprised if they have boxes that go really deep. Hopefully those with experience will answer.

Welcome to the forum Ish. If you plant artichokes into your SFG that has no bottom barrier of hardware cloth, weedcloth or wood, the taproot will just keep going where it needs to. I myself would not put them in the SFG because the plant gets too large above ground.

@ camprn Thanks for the info. I am thinking I will put a box around it so it matches my other SFG. I read that the roots can go 18 in. So I am thinking dig 10in in ground and put weed cloth then 10in Mels mix and 2 plants spaced 4 ft apart and maybe plant carrots between them. We'll see I need the exercise BUT I am not sure I can do it.

@ AZDYJ2K Thanks I think the Artichoke I am talking about is called globe not Jerusalem. They are different. But thanks for trying. The ones I amtalking about are huge but the wife really wants them.

Happy Gardening people and Have a great day.

ishootaction wrote:How deep an artichoke root goes? I am in zone 9 b. I am think of putting 2 plants in a 4x6x8 box to match my other sfg. I will dig deeper than the 8 in. I just need to know how deep. Thanks

Mike :scratch:

Are you sure you need the weed barrier, Mike? I built 8 beds this year, and half of them were set directly on the ground and the others were lined with 2-3 layers of corrugated cardboard. I have exactly the same amount of weeds in each bed--almost none! Some grass crept under the boards and into the corners, and actually about 3 sprouts of grass in the middle of the beds. Vinegar takes care of most of that, and the slugs hiding under the boards, too. Bet you don't have that problem.
;-)

My artichoke (notice that's singular) is in a 4x4 bed, inside the deer fence. (Unnecessary-it's getting moved out.) I made this bed 12" deep, but ran out of fill, so there's now about 4" of MM in the box. I made the huge mistake of "tucking" a couple of determinate tomatoes in the corners, hearing that the artichoke would need a year to grow to a size that it would grow globes. It was a very happy camper in only 4" of MM, until the tomatoes crowded the leaves on the bottom. I got 4 globes from it before the bottom leaves started to disappear under the tomatoes and it stopped producing and growth slowed. I truly think that it would have charged ahead without the competition. I could be wrong. I wish I had thought it out better and just put one trellised indet. tomato in the corner, or herbs or much smaller companions.

I guess my point is that I wouldn't dig, because it moves the weed seeds around and seems to wake them up. At most, I'd stick a fork in the ground to poke air holes around a bit. Of course, I forgot to ask if you have sand or clay. Oops! I live on an old sand and gravel pit with "drainage!!!" Absolutely no problem for tap roots!
I live on an island, used to be 8b, but the last 3 winters are making me rethink that we might be 'adjusting' to 8a.

Hope this helps a little. <8-)
janezee

@ janezee

Thank you so much for the input. I am now thinking 4x8x12 with 2 artichokes 1 on each end and maybe carrots in the middle. I think the carrots will love the 12in. I plan on digging down using weed cloth and chicken wire for goffers. It will be some work but I am using it for exercise. Better than lifting wieghts.

Happy Gardening

ishootaction wrote:@ janezee

Thank you so much for the input. I am now thinking 4x8x12 with 2 artichokes 1 on each end and maybe carrots in the middle. I think the carrots will love the 12in. I plan on digging down using weed cloth and chicken wire for goffers. It will be some work but I am using it for exercise. Better than lifting wieghts.

Happy Gardening :heart:

:D We all have our little pests! Knock wood, I don't have them! (yet)
Deer and slugs. Slugs and deer. (sigh)
I've used my garden and yard as my workout regime this year, and this is the best I've felt since 40, when I had my last big garden. Go figure!

I've been growing Danvers half long and Parmex ball carrots this year, until the worms soften the ground below deeper. Mmmmmm, good. I hope they get big enough before it gets too cold, because I'm looking forward to frost-sweetened roots this winter. How cold does it get for you?

We rarely have a frost. I am not sure. This is my first year of paying attention. Right now we are having 80s and 90s with 60s and 70s at night. I was shocked when my radishes sprouted in just 2 days. I am a little sore from my work out. But I love getting something done for my effort. I hope the artichoke plan works out. It is all pretty exciting.

Happy Gardening