April is a good time to start caring for artichokes in the garden. A vegetable to be eaten raw or cooked and whose cultivation is simple. Here are the tips of Jacky Mercier our organic market gardener in Frontenay sur Dive.
- plant in the ground (not in a planter on a balcony)
- in a clayey and humid soil but not too much (to avoid rotting)
- feet every 70/80 cm
- for maintenance, a simple watering is enough
- one foot can give up to 8 artichokes (except the first 1st year)
- after a few years it is necessary to split/unmarry the feet to avoid overloading them
If you plant your artichokes in April, the harvest will take place in June/July.
There are several species: Breton, small purple…