Artichokes are no longer uncommon in German gardens and seeds are now available in every hardware store or garden center. But there are a lot of things to consider when sowing and planting the exotic flowering vegetables. Find out here how sowing becomes a success.
How do you sow artichokes correctly?
To sow artichokes successfully, soak the seeds in lukewarm water for 2-3 hours, sow them in potting soil and place them in a warm, bright location. Water regularly and plant them in the bed after the ice saints.
The right seeds
You can either collect the seeds from the flowers of your artichoke yourself in autumn or you can buy seeds commercially. When you buy seeds, you should make sure that the variety is somewhat hardy. There is usually a note here: “limited winter hardiness” or “can be hibernated outside with winter protection”. You should store self-harvested seeds in a cool, dry place until sowing.
Sowing and raising artichokes
Artichokes are grown on the windowsill in February so that they can be harvested in the same year. When sowing, proceed as follows:
- Soak the seeds in lukewarm water for two to three hours to increase germination.
- Then place the seeds in pots with potting soil (€6.00 on Amazon) and place them in a warm, bright location. The seedlings can develop optimally at 20 to 25 degrees.
- Water the substrate regularly so that it never dries out completely.
- The seedlings should appear after about three weeks.
- If the plants get too big, you should repot them into larger planters.
- As it gets warmer outside, you can move your young artichoke plants outside every now and then so that they get used to being outdoors.
Planting artichokes
After the ice saints, the artichokes can be placed in the bed. Choose a sunny, wind-protected location and ensure there are enough nutrients in the soil by adding a good portion of compost before planting the artichoke. Make sure that your artichoke is supplied with sufficient water, especially at the beginning will.
Tip
Don't harvest very small buds, let them bloom. So you not only have a beautiful ornamental perennial in your garden, but you can also collect seeds for propagation.
