planting artichokes in WV?

Question

Growing artichokes in WV?
I bought a pack of seeds at lowes..It is a Emerald Artichoke..I am starting the seeds indoors then planning on transplanting outside this spring..it says on the pack to harvest between 180-360 days..so...I am thinking harvesting time will be in the winter or possibly next year??? but...wont the plants die through the winter and snow? so is this possible to do in WV? or is this something I should experiment with as an indoor plant?

Answer 1

Artichokes are biennial. They have to survive warmly until the next growing season. France does it, but this is zone 5.

Answer 2

If you lve in the frost belt you will have problems growing this plant. Artichokes do not flower until the second year, but they won't survive that long where freezing occurs in the winter. They don't care much for hot summers either,which means that there are only a few places, mostly on the west coast, where they will do well.
Start seeds about 8 weeks before the last frost, soak them overnight in cool water, then plant in moistened soilless mix and keep them at 70degrees until the plants have their first set of true leaves. Transplant to individual 4 inch pots filled with potting mix, grow in bright light with day temps, of 60-70 degrees and night temps of 50-60 degrees., for about 6-8 weeks. The little plants MUST have 2 weeks of WINTER temps between 40 and 50 degrees. If this describes your spring then you could put them outside.
If not, move the pots to a cool spot outdoors in the morning then set them in the garage overnight.
or an unheated sunroom. At the end of the 2 weeks plant them outside.
Make sure they get enough water and keep an eye out for pests. The artichokes will be ready to harvest about 3 months after setting out.

Answer 3

Once you plant it outside it will not produce until next year. Try mulching it super deep <6 inches or more>. It's still iffy as to whether artichoke can survive where you are.
It is grown commercially on the coast where it is cool but never freezes south of San Francisco. Try the mulch over winter. It can work. It likes plenty of moisture, too, in hot weather. They get pretty large 5' x 5'.

Answer 4

You'll need a green house there.