Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a hero in both the kitchen and the garden. It is easy and fast to grow indoors to add a slight nutty taste to salads or sandwiches.
Yates Account
Join now
Create a Yates account today!
Sign up to join the Yates Garden Club for monthly e-mails packed with seasonal inspiration, tips for success & exclusive promotions.
Plus if you’re a Garden Club member you can take part in the Yates Growing Community - a blog to share successes, get advice & win prizes in fun challenges along the way!
Forgot password
Enter the email address associated with your account, and we'll email you a new password.
It’s a ‘tops and bottoms’ tale when it comes to artichokes. With Jerusalem artichokes, it’s the underground part that we eat, whereas the popular globe artichokes develop their edible parts well above the ground. These two ‘varieties’ are completely unrelated. Globe artichokes (Cynara scolymus) are actually an unopened bud belonging to the Thistle family and, if left to mature, the bud will expand into a rich, purple, thistle-like flower head. The plants can grow up to more than a metre tall and, because of their striking good looks, are often grown as ornamentals.
Globe artichokes can be grown from seed, shoots or suckers. Suckers are small plants which grow at the base of the plant. Jerusalem artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus) are sunflowers, and while we admire the pretty blooms, it’s the underground tubers we’re interested in harvesting. Grow Jerusalem artichokes from tubers and ensure you have plenty of space as they can grow up to 3m tall.
How to grow artichokes in a garden
- Start by preparing the garden bed with organic compost and Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed. If soil is acidic, mix in a small amount of Yates Hydrangea Pinking Liquid Lime & Dolomite before planting.
- Sow seeds, suckers or tubers directly where they are to grow, cover lightly with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix, gently firm down and keep moist. Thin seedlings to 60cm apart and feed every two weeks with Yates Thrive Vegie & Herb Liquid Plant Food.
- If you’ve planted Jerusalem artichokes, in autumn the plants begin to die back and, when they’re completely brown, the harvest can begin. Use your hands to ‘bandicoot’ under the plant bases and pull out the tubers – they look a bit like knotted potatoes.
- If you’ve planted Globe artichokes, they’re generally ready to harvest in spring. Pick the buds when they are firm, but just before they open. Tip: Use a sharp knife to cut the stem and leave a few centimetres of stem.
How to grow artichokes in a pot
- Globe artichokes like to spread, so ensure the pot is 1m wide and at least 30cm deep. Fill pot with Yates Premium Potting Mix and plant.
Growing tips
- Good drainage is essential.
- Water the base, especially early in the day so the leaves have time to dry before nightfall; this will help keep the plants disease free.
- Artichokes grow slowly and usually take more than a year to get to cropping stage. As they grow, thin out the shoots to leave only the three or four of the strongest. If you don’t do this, you’ll end up with a myriad of weak, small heads.
- Artichokes are perennials, so they will continue to grow year after year, for up to three or four years. Cut plants back towards the end of autumn and feed with Yates Thrive Natural Seaweed & Fish Plus Fert as the new shoots appear.
Watercress
The peppery taste of watercress brings the pizzazz to sandwiches, winter dishes & garnishes. The high content of Calcium, Iron & Vitamins make watercress a super-healthy option.
Perilla
A widely used ingredient in Asian cooking, it's highly nutritious and beautiful to look at too. Here's how to grow perilla in the garden or in pots.
Swede
Here's a guide on how to grow swedes in the garden or pots.
Recommended products
Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed
A certified organic garden input boosted with NZ Seaweed to gently nourish plants, enrich the soil and encourage a strong healthy root system.
Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix
Specially formulated for trouble-free seed raising in trays (or outdoor seed sowing direclty into the ground) and propagation of cuttings.
Yates Thrive Vegie & Herb Liquid Plant Food
Provides vegies and herbs with the balanced nutrition they need to produce strong, healthy growth and improved yields
Yates Premium Potting Mix
A premium potting mix, ideal for all potted plants and shrubs, including ornamentals, fruit trees, vegies and herbs.
Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate
A complete plant food enriched with natural fish, seaweed, humates, molasses and more - boosted with NPK to improve plant and soil vitality.
Share
Share this article on social media