Single-purpose plants are common in your garden. Green beans are tasty but not terribly interesting to look at; daffodils are charming but inedible. Sometimes, though, you find a plant that pulls double duty—like artichokes. 

You can harvest artichoke blossom heads before they flower, and their bracts and tasty hearts can embellish delicious dishes—or even star in their own with dip. However, if you don’t harvest the buds, they will bloom into purple, thistle-like flowers. These beautiful blooms can be 7 inches wide, and pollinators love them.

Regardless of whether you want to use artichokes as a veggie or a flower (or both!), it’s easy enough to grow this interesting plant and make it a part of your garden landscape. Here’s how to successfully care for one, according to gardening experts.

When to Plant Artichokes

Artichokes are only hardy in Zones 8 and warmer, so they’re treated like annuals in colder regions. This means you should start seeds indoors at least two months before the last frost date, and protect the seedlings from frost.

Another option is to purchase plants closer to the desired planting date. However, remember that artichokes also need mild exposure to chilly temperatures in the 40s to stimulate blossom growth—a process called vernalization. Regardless, they should never be exposed to frost.

“We grow a variety called ‘Imperial Star’ that will produce in one season,” says horticulturist Kenneth C. Brown, who gardens in the Canadian equivalent of USDA Zones 4 to 5. “We start them indoors [in spring] and move them outside in late May, and they produce two to four chokes per plant by late August.”

If you’re growing artichokes in warmer zones, plant them in the late summer or fall and then allow them to go through the vernalization process naturally during the winter months. They’ll continue to grow, and will begin producing chokes the following year. 

How to Care for Artichokes

The coastal climate of Central California is ideal for growing artichokes, which is why it’s a prime location for commercial growers. Artichokes thrive when temperatures fluctuate between 55 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, without getting much colder or warmer than that (with the exception of the winter months, as previously noted). 

Light and Temperature

Generally speaking, artichokes prefer full sun for optimal growth and maximum production, but you may need to alter this plan in warm climates. “Sunlight is important,” says Brown. “A couple of mine that were in a bit of shade for part of the day did not produce any chokes. The ones beside them that didn’t get that bit of shade did just fine.”

However, in hot climates beyond the preferred temperature range for artichokes, you may want to incorporate some shade. “If your daily temperatures regularly go into the 90s and higher, plant the artichokes in part shade instead of full sun, and routinely check the soil temperature,” says master gardener Charlotte Germane. “Hot soil can keep the buds from setting—some say that 85 degrees Fahrenheit is the maximum soil temperature they can tolerate.”

Soil and Water

Artichokes aren’t super picky about soil type. “They’re native to the Mediterranean, but that doesn’t mean they want to be planted on a hot, rocky hillside,” says Germane. “Artichokes thrive in rich, well-drained soil; weekly watering (by rain or hose); and warm—but not hot—temperatures.”

Fertilizer

Surprisingly, artichokes perform best when regularly fertilized. They need a good deal of nitrogen to grow properly, so gardeners often apply a liquid fertilizer every month. An extension office can guide you in the specifics for your region, because this can vary greatly.

How to Harvest Artichokes

Artichokes are unique, and their harvesting process is fascinating. However, you should do so with an eye toward the rest of the season.

“Harvest the largest buds from the top of the artichoke stalks to encourage more fruiting side shoots,” says landscape designer Jane Gates. “They’re ready to eat once the outer scales start to plump and the whole bud starts to soften—but before becoming loose and starting to open.”

She suggests using a clean, sharp set of hand clippers to remove the bud and cut it fairly close to the main stem. “You can shorten the stem later, or, if you love these vegetables as much as I do, you can eat the soft, sweet interior of the stems, peeling away the outer stringy part first!” 

How to Enjoy the Flowers

You can also grow artichokes for their beautiful, massive blooms. “Resist the impulse to harvest and eat all the artichoke buds—let several open as the plant flowers,” says Germane. “For sheer garden drama, it’s hard to beat the sight of the tall stalks topped by glowing, blue-violet thistle mounds.”

She notes that you and your neighbors won’t be the only ones enjoying the flowers—pollinators find them attractive, too. “You will have regular visits by honey bees or bumblebees crawling across the thistles in search of sweet nectar,” she says.

Mistakes to Avoid

One common problem when it comes to growing artichokes is bad spacing. It’s very easy in the spring to plant your seeds or tiny seedlings too close together. “There are a number of varieties, some smaller or larger, some more purple or green—but they all grow tall and wide,” says Gates. “Give them the space they need, and they will reward you with plenty to eat and lots of showy flower heads.”

Another issue is weeds. Artichokes don’t perform their best with heavy weeds, so carefully remove them without disturbing the roots. A light layer of mulch can sometimes help smother weeds until the artichokes have grown tall enough to shut out competition.