HOW TO TAKE CUTTINGS FROM ARTICHOKES

How to grow cuttings from artichokes

All globe artichokes are selected forms of the ornamental cardoon - Cynara cardunculus and unless you are growing artichokes using F1 hybrid seeds then you can expect a certain amount of variation from seed grown plants.

Artichoke seedlings

Of course if you have a particularly good variety of artichoke available to you then you can ensure that all subsequent progeny are genetically identical by taking cuttings. This means that the crop produced from the cutting material will look and taste exactly the same as the parent plant.

Traditionally, propagation material is taken in the form of rooted suckers - otherwise known as basal side-shoots. The most successful method is to take suckers which are approximately 9 inches long, in April or November. Pot them on into 4-5 inch pots containing a good quality compost such as John Innes 'No 1'.

For suckers taken in November, overwinter in a bright, frost-free position such as a greenhouse of cold frame. Suckers taken in April can be kept outside in a position of light-shade until they establish their root system. Once they are well rooted they can be planted out into their final position at 3 ft intervals

Newly transplanted artichokes 

Artichokes will require a sheltered, sunny position in a well-drained and well cultivated soil. They are not fully hardy in the cooler northern European gardens, so just before the onset of winter, usually around November, cut the stems down to 18 inches and draw soil up to the stems.

Cover the artichoke bed with a 12 inch layer of straw or bracken to protect the roots from ground frosts. In particularly cold and wet winters you may need to replace this covering to ensure continued and adequate protection.

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