Despite sharing the same name, Jerusalem artichokes and globe artichokes are totally unrelated with Jerusalem artichokes being eaten for their tubers and a member of the sunflower family and globe artichokes having edible, large ornamental flower buds making them attractive enough to be grown in a flower garden.

Both varieties are a delicious culinary delight but do require quite a lot of space. Jerusalem artichokes are tall and can grow up to 3m in height, making them an ideal windbreak, whilst globe artichokes look stunning in an herbaceous border. Due to their height they will need to be planted at the back so as not to overshadow smaller plants, making them a wonderful focal point.

Both varieties of artichoke require a nutrient rich and well-drained soil. The autumn before planting prepare the site well by digging in plenty of well-rotted manure or compost.

Jerusalem artichokes can be grown in light shade but do best in full sun but globe artichokes require as much sun as possible.

If you are going to plant globe artichokes in the vegetable garden as opposed to the herbaceous border, bear in mind that they will remain in the same site for about five years so a site that is not included in crop rotation will be necessary as will a thorough preparation of the ground.

Jerusalem artichokes may be dug up each autumn although invariably some get missed and spring up the next year. They can also be grown as a perennial by replanting some of the tubers that have been harvested each spring.

HOW TO PLANT ARTICHOKES

Jerusalem artichokes need to be planted out in about February or March and are started from tubers as opposed to seeds, which can be bought from garden centres or even online.

Plant in a well prepared soil to a depth of 15cm with 30cm spaces between the tubers and 1.5m between the rows. Once covered, add a sprinkling of general purpose fertiliser on the top.

Globe artichokes are usually planted a month later than Jerusalem artichokes and although they can be sown from seed it is a long process and therefore it is far easier to purchase rooted suckers for a spring planting.

Before planting the suckers rake in some general fertiliser to the earlier prepared autumn site and plant to the same depth as they were in their pots and with a spacing of 1m apart and then water in well, (each plant will produce up to twelve heads) so you may only need one or two.

HOW TO GROW YOUR ARTICHOKES

Once the stems of the Jerusalem artichokes reach about 30cm high earth them up as you would potatoes by drawing soil around them to a height of 15cm, this will help to give them support as they grow. If they are in a very windy or exposed site, due to their height they may eventually need some additional support to stop them bending in the wind.

Globe artichokes will need to be kept watered during any dry weather and a mulch in May will help the soil to retain moisture and keep weeds at bay.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR ARTICHOKES

Keep globe artichokes well watered during their first year making sure that they do not dry out during any spells of hot weather and to ensure the plant puts all its energies into forming a good crown cut out any flower buds that appear to give you a strong and prolific crop for the following year? Cut away any dead leaves in the autumn as this will reveal new shoots and if you live in a particularly cold area, cover the plants in autumn with either straw, well-rotted manure or a compost to give them some protection.

Jerusalem artichokes are quite leafy and this should help keep the area weed free but if any weeds do appear remove them by hand to ensure the artichokes get all the water. During any particularly dry spells they may require extra watering. Jerusalem artichokes will start to die back in the autumn and once the foliage starts to go yellow prune down to 10cm above ground level. The pruning’s can be placed over the plants to keep the soil warm during the winter months or placed on the compost heap.

HOW TO HARVEST YOUR ARTICHOKES

Jerusalem artichokes can be harvested from late autumn and into the winter as and when required by digging up. If you do not want any tubers for the following year, great care to remove each and every one of them will be needed as any left behind will start redrawing again in the spring.

Having refrained from harvesting the globe artichokes in their first year and removing the flower heads instead by the second year they will be ready for harvesting from July to October.

Once the buds have reached about the size of a golf ball and before they start to open and flower, remove the top bud first with a pair of secateurs leaving a few centimetres of stem attached to the bud as this will ensure a better flavour, removing side buds as and when they become large enough in the same way.

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