Violet, Artichoke Seeds

Violet Artichoke Seed

Purple buds combine fine flavor with ornamental appeal
French heirloom genetics bring uncommon European character
Unharvested buds open into dramatic thistle-like flowers
Large silver-green foliage anchors edible garden borders

See product details

Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Cynara scolymus

Days to maturity

85 Days

Sun

Full Sun

Packet

25 Seeds

About Violet, Artichoke Seed, Artichoke Seed

Violet is a French heirloom with fine flavor! Beautiful purple buds that are lovely on the big, ornamental plants, especially when the buds open. Rare outside Europe. Large silver-green foliage anchors edible garden borders. Unharvested buds open into dramatic thistle-like flowers. French heirloom genetics bring uncommon European character.

Growing details

Planting

Sow Depth

1/4"

Days to Germination

7–21 days

In-row plant spacing

36-48"

Row Spacing

4-6'

Plant profile

Maturity

Summer

Life Cycle

Annual

Plant Height

60 inches

Growth Habits

Upright, Rosette

Seed & variety

Seeds Per Ounce

500

Color

Purple

Seed Type

Heirloom

Before Planting

Choose a full-sun site with deep, fertile, well-drained soil and room for large plants. Work several inches of compost into the bed and adjust fertility according to a soil test. In cold-winter areas, plan for transplant culture and provide the young plants with the cool-temperature exposure needed to encourage bud production.

Planting

Start artichoke seed indoors 8–12 weeks before the last spring frost, maintaining about 70–75°F until germination. After emergence, provide strong light and cooler growing conditions. Harden seedlings gradually before transplanting after severe frost danger has passed. In cold-winter regions, expose young plants to roughly 10 days of cool, nonfreezing temperatures to encourage first-year bud formation.

Watering

Keep the artichoke root zone consistently moist as plants enlarge and form buds, generally supplying 1–2 inches per week from rain and irrigation. Water deeply rather than frequently; drought lowers bud quality, while saturated crowns are prone to rot.

Fertilizer

Feed artichokes as heavy feeders, side-dressing with a balanced fertilizer during vigorous growth and again as buds begin forming. Follow soil-test recommendations and avoid excessive nitrogen.

Harvesting

Cut artichoke buds while they are firm, tightly closed, and full-sized but before the scales begin opening. Leave several inches of stem attached and use a clean knife. Smaller side buds can be harvested afterward.

Tips

Protect crowns with a deep mulch where winters are marginal, removing it gradually in spring. Divide crowded perennial plants every few years, and remove old stalks after production ends.

Pests & Diseases

Verticillium wilt, powdery mildew, Botrytis blight, and crown or root rot can affect artichokes. Watch for stunting, one-sided wilting, leaf-edge death, white coating, gray mold, or collapsing crowns. Use disease-free seed, rotate away from wilt-susceptible crops, provide drainage and airflow, water below foliage, and remove declining plants.

Watch for aphids, slugs, earwigs, artichoke plume moths, and snails. Inspect developing buds and leaf undersides, handpick larger pests, remove damaged material, and encourage beneficial insects before using labeled treatments.