Plant globe-artichoke offsets

When to do it

Within Globe artichoke’s zone window, when healthy offsets can establish in mild conditions.

What you need

• Rooted offset or nursery plant
• Spade and water
• Prepared spacious bed

How to do it

1. Identify a healthy rooted side shoot on a sound parent, or use nursery stock. Globe artichokes are not Jerusalem artichokes.
2. Separate an offset with attached roots using a clean tool, retaining enough foliage and root to establish.
3. Plant at the previous depth in a sunny draining bed, allowing about 90 cm or more between mature plants according to variety.
4. Water to settle and protect the new plant from severe exposure. Let it establish rather than taking an early crop from a weak plant.
5. For established plants, cut flower buds while still closed and firm, with a short stalk. Open flowering heads are past their usual vegetable harvest stage.

What success looks like

• Offsets root and produce a vigorous clump before cropping.

Watch out for

• Taking an unrooted piece and treating it as an established division.
• Waiting until buds open to harvest.

Plant guides using this technique

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