How to Grow Globe Artichokes UK

By the SoilCommander Editorial Team, under the guidance of Nitin Sharma, Co-Founder · · How we check our facts

On this page
  1. Globe Artichoke (Cynara scolymus)
  2. When to Plant Globe Artichokes in the UK
  3. Quick Facts
  4. At a Glance
  5. Soil & Growing Conditions
  6. Growth Stages
  7. Harvest & Storage
  8. Diseases
  9. Pests
  10. Globe Artichoke, an Architectural Perennial Bud Crop
  11. Plan your Globe Artichokes planting
  12. Growing Globe Artichoke in another region
  13. References
  14. Frequently Asked Questions

In the UK, globe artichokes go in the ground mid February to mid April.

Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: sowing mid February, and that same window applies across all 4 regions covered here.

The short answer

Plant
Mid February to mid April
Site
6+ hours of sun, soil pH 6–6.5
Biggest risk
Verticillium wilt

Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural sources — see References.

Globe Artichoke (Cynara scolymus)

The silvery, architectural foliage of a globe artichoke plant — “Cynara scolymus - at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 2024 032” by Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

7 sources cited · Verified

When to Plant Globe Artichokes in the UK

When to plant globe artichokes in the UK: in Southern England, sow mid February to mid April. Find your area in the table below.

Rows of globe artichoke plants growing in a field — “Artischocken Anbau in der Pfalz-3-Josef Schlaghecken” by Schlaghecken Josef is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Artischocken Anbau in der Pfalz-3-Josef Schlaghecken” by Schlaghecken Josef is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Region Sow
Southern England mid February to mid April
Midlands mid February to mid April
Northern England mid February to mid April
Scotland mid February to mid April
Southern England - detail & sources

RHS: sow indoors late winter to mid-spring; a single window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since the source gives no UK-region-specific gradient, and plants are typically raised under cover before planting out regardless of region.

Midlands - detail & sources

RHS: sow indoors late winter to mid-spring; a single window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since the source gives no UK-region-specific gradient, and plants are typically raised under cover before planting out regardless of region.

Northern England - detail & sources

RHS: sow indoors late winter to mid-spring; a single window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since the source gives no UK-region-specific gradient, and plants are typically raised under cover before planting out regardless of region.

Scotland - detail & sources

RHS: sow indoors late winter to mid-spring; a single window is applied uniformly across all four sub-regions since the source gives no UK-region-specific gradient, and plants are typically raised under cover before planting out regardless of region.

A page from the UK Vegetable Garden Planner PDF: the crop rotation planner, with a planning grid and four-bed rotation tips

Plan your globe artichokes — and the rest of the plot

This page covers globe artichokes. For every crop's sowing months on one chart, use the free UK vegetable planting calendar, and browse the UK vegetable growing guides for what else to grow alongside it. When you want the whole season on paper, the UK Vegetable Garden Planner is a printable PDF:

  • Twelve month-by-month sowing and harvest spreads
  • Raised bed, allotment and container layout pages for your own plot
  • A four-year crop rotation planner
  • Seed inventory, sowing log and harvest tracker
See inside the UK Vegetable Garden Planner →

Instant PDF download · reprint every season

Quick Facts

Close-up of a globe artichoke bud with its bracts — “Cynara scolymus in Jardin des 5 sens (2)” by Krzysztof Golik is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Cynara scolymus in Jardin des 5 sens (2)” by Krzysztof Golik is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Factor Value
Soil pH 6 - 6.5
Sunlight 6-6 hours direct sun
Optimal growing temp 15-25°C
Minimum survivable temp 0°C
Drainage Well-drained
Lifecycle perennial
Edible parts immature flower bud (bracts and heart)

At a Glance

Dried globe artichoke seed heads left on the plant — “Artisjok Cynara scolymus. Locatie, De Kruidhof Buitenpost 02” by Agnes Monkelbaan is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Artisjok Cynara scolymus. Locatie, De Kruidhof Buitenpost 02” by Agnes Monkelbaan is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Cynara scolymus Globe Artichoke Verticillium wilt Aphids Slugs Snails DISEASES PESTS

Soil & Growing Conditions

The silvery, architectural foliage of a globe artichoke plant — “Cynara scolymus - at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 2024 032” by Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Cynara scolymus - at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 2024 032” by Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Soil pH range

6 6.5

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

A globe artichoke bud opening into its purple thistle-like flower — “Cynara scolymus in Jardin botanique de la Charme 02” by Krzysztof Golik is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Cynara scolymus in Jardin botanique de la Charme 02” by Krzysztof Golik is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Stage BBCH Notes
Sowing and raising young plants 0 Sow indoors late winter to mid-spring, about 2cm deep in modular trays or small pots, or direct outdoors in spring once soil has warmed; transplant when plants have at least five large leaves and are about 30cm tall (RHS).
Planting out and first-year establishment 1 Plant out at 75-90cm spacing after the last frost, hardened off first; remove any developing flower stalks in the first year so the plant puts energy into establishing strong roots (RHS).
Overwintering and spring regrowth 3 Top growth dies back in autumn; young plants need thick mulch plus cloches or fleece in hard frosts, established plants benefit from covering the crown with spent foliage and straw/bracken/compost mulch, then re-sprout in spring (RHS).
Budding and harvest 8 From the second summer, harvest flower buds from June onwards at full size but still tightly closed, cutting with secateurs above a leaf joint; a mature plant can produce up to 12 buds a year (RHS).

Harvest & Storage

Close-up of a globe artichoke bud with its bracts — “Cynara scolymus in Jardin des 5 sens (2)” by Krzysztof Golik is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Cynara scolymus in Jardin des 5 sens (2)” by Krzysztof Golik is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to pick: RHS: young flower stalks removed in the first summer; a full crop of buds is produced in the second summer, harvested June to September. Harvest "when the flower buds are still tightly closed", using secateurs, "before the bracts start to open" — check regularly as buds open quickly in warm weather. Cornell: most gardeners remove and eat the flower head and bracts before they open, harvesting the hearts before flowering.

Storage

Best used fresh soon after cutting

Diseases

The silvery, architectural foliage of a globe artichoke plant — “Cynara scolymus - at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 2024 032” by Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Cynara scolymus - at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 2024 032” by Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Verticillium wilt

Verticillium dahliae

UC IPM dedicated Verticillium Wilt/Artichoke page: wilting, chlorosis, stunting, smaller/discolored buds; annual artichoke varieties more susceptible than perennial Green Globe.

Pests

The silvery, architectural foliage of a globe artichoke plant — “Cynara scolymus - at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 2024 032” by Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Cynara scolymus - at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 2024 032” by Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Aphididae (various spp.)

Slugs

Gastropoda (slugs, various spp.)

Snails

Gastropoda (snails, various spp.)

Plan your Globe Artichokes planting

When to sow and plant Globe Artichokes depends on your own frost dates. Check the UK vegetable planting calendar. To work out where it fits in your beds, sketch your plot in the free Garden Layout Planner.

Growing Globe Artichoke in another region

Sowing dates, frost timing and local advice differ by country. Use the guide for where you garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I sow globe artichokes in the UK?

In Southern England, from mid February. In Scotland, wait until mid February. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.

When do I sow globe artichokes?

Sow mid February to mid April.

What soil pH do globe artichokes need?

A pH of about 6–6.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.

What problems affect globe artichokes?

Our data links 1 disease and 3 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.

Plan next season before the problems start

Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.

Get the UK Garden Planner →

Instant PDF download · Written for UK growing conditions

SoilCommander Editorial Team — under the guidance of Nitin Sharma, Co-Founder

Every growing guide is checked against RHS, USDA Cooperative Extension, and other named horticultural authorities before publishing. How we check our facts.

How this guide is put together

The growing data on this page — sowing windows, pests, diseases, soil and site requirements — comes from named horticultural sources, listed in References below, checked against RHS and Met Office guidance. An automated pipeline assembles that verified data into the page you're reading: it selects which facts to lead with and builds the surrounding prose and layout. It does not invent a date, a source or a number — where a verified value for a field isn't available, the page leaves it out rather than guessing. A person reviews and publishes each page; nothing goes live unverified.

Vegetable Growing Guides UK

Crops With the Same Problems

Related Problem Guides

Last verified 2026-09-02

Plan Globe Artichokes by month

The months this guide gives for sowing or planting, each with the full list of jobs for that month in the UK:

More from the same group (plant once, harvest for years):

Relevant next steps

Where To Go From Here

Take this crop from reading into a written plan for your own beds.

UK garden plannerTurn this crop guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and a harvest record. All growing guidesBrowse every crop we cover for your region, A to Z. Planting CalendarSee how this crop fits alongside everything else you are growing.

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