Most people who have seen my garden this season have asked me what the giant thistle is. Believe it or not, the plant is a giant thistle better known as a globe artichoke. Each year, I try to plant one or two things that I have never grown before. In the past, this has included kholrabi, fennel and broccoli raab. After the Notorious B. I. G. (Brooklyn Italian Grandmother) made fried artichokes for us, I decided that the artichoke was going to be in my garden for the first time this season.
The globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus) is a perennial thistle of the genus Cynara originating in Southern Europe around the Mediterranean. It grows tall, with arching, deeply lobed, silvery-green leaves 10–20 inches long. The flowers develop in a large head from an edible bud about 3–5 inches in diameter with numerous triangular scales. The individual florets are purple. The edible portion of the buds consists primarily of the fleshy lower portions and the base, known as the “heart”; the mass of immature florets in the center of the bud is called the “choke” or beard. These are inedible in older larger flowers.
I grew my plants from seeds under the grow light in the basement. The seeds are a variety known as Imperial Star. Specifically bred for annual production, Imperial Star produces artichokes the first season from seed. Typically 6-8 mature buds, averaging 3-4 inches in diameter, are grown per plant. Imperial Star plants grow 3-4 feet tall.
My artichoke plants in the garden have really flourished. They seem to grow every hot and humid day that we have. So far, they have required little, if any, special attention. The next phase should be the flowering of the plants and then the formation of the artichoke that we know and can eat. I’ll keep you posted on our fun new find as the plants continue to mature during this gardening season.
P. S. – for those of you who read the cabbage murder mystery post, notice my sad cabbage plants in the back of this picture. As well, notice the bowl of beer or as we call it in my garden, the slug’s swimming pool. Not looking good for some home-grown cabbage this year!!
Acorns On Glen 
We love the artichoke blossoms. We harvest our first crop and let the next set bloom. The bees love them and they are so pretty…
And fried artichokes rock…
Hi putneyfarm. Thanks for the comment. Let me ask you this…do you eat the blossoms or use them just for decoration? I have fried squash blossoms before filled with ricotta cheese and they were delicious. Is this what you do or something completely different? We are with you as well…nothing better than a fried artichoke. In this case, the smaller the better. Thanks for visiting and hope to see you soon.
We don’t eat the blossoms (can you?), just leave them to the bees and for us to look at. The color is outstanding.
As for fried artichokes, like you said, the smaller the better. We only fry ones that have little or no “choke” developed…
Ha! Good thing I asked about the blossom. Not sure it would be good stuffed and fried anyway…looks like it isn’t to be eaten. I agree, they are pretty to look at and for the bees.