Artichoke, Cardoon 'Imperial Star'

Imperial Star is suitable for growing as an annual, although I have read that vernalization is still beneficial.

I have gr...Read Moreown this variety the last two years in Wisconsin in barrel halves. Although I did not get large numbers of artichokes, the ones I got were delicious.

Artichokes grown as an annual require starting in midwinter and I vernalized twice by refrigerating the seeds for two weeks in wet paper towels, then again by putting the young plants out in early May (last frost date is June1). I brought the young plants inside the garage any time that it was likely to frost.

I'm a newbie gardener, and I was able to grow them easily from seed. This variety is promoted for supposedly producing in its first year...Read More, making it possible to grow it as an annual, but I was not so lucky. Mine did not produce in the first year, in spite of my attempts to chill the seedlings for a few weeks before transplanting.

They did survive a Zone 6 winter, however. I cut them down almost to the ground for winter and covered them. The next spring they grew well and produced several artichokes per plant. The foliage is lovely -- if I lived in a warm climate, I would put artichokes in my front yard!

If you are starting them from seed, note that they are slow growing. Start them 10 weeks before transplant time.

Lost about half to some sort of wilt - some produce loads then died. Some we're still waiting on. We been having the same problem with ...Read Morezucchini, some of the peppers & tomatoes. Artichokes take up a lot of space and are too much trouble for us. We'll be buying artichoke hearts at Costco!

I bought three plants from a local nursery in Dallas, Texas, in the spring/summer of 2005. All settled in very well and performed well i...Read Moren a very hot, exceptionally dry summer. All three survived the dry winter and as of March 2006 are actively and vigorously growing again. One of the three plants, which is in a protected location next to a retaining wall and fence, suffered no freeze damage at all and looks magnificent at 5' in diameter and 3' high. One of the other plants produced two pups at the base, which I carefully removed and transplanted elsewhere in the garden in February 2006. So far, I am extremely pleased with this variety and look forward to the buds/blossoms.