Artichoke Seeds

Green Globe Artichoke Seeds
These artichoke seeds will produce globe-shaped fruit that is green with purplish base.
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How to Grow Artichokes

This gourmet-quality perennial is grown in warm climates as either a perennial or biennial, but in cold climates as an annual. The trick is to:

Fool Mother Nature.
In cool regions, it's time to start the trickery when artichoke plants are about six weeks old. The objective is to convince the plant that it is two years old and ready to make buds, rather than a seedling ready to make only leaves. This is done by growing the plant at cool temperatures for a prescribed length of time. This cold treatment makes the seedling behave as if it is an older plant ready to flower.

Temperatures during the cold treatment should remain below 50° F (10° C) but above 35°F (2° C) for at least 250 continuous hours (about 10½ days). Since it is difficult to prevent times when temperatures rise above 50° F (10° C) give the plant the cold treatment for an even longer period, lets say from four to six weeks. Put the plants in a cold frame about six weeks before the last frost. Keep the frame open at night for frost protection. When all danger of frost is past and the soil temperature is above 60ºF (16ºC) set plants about 2 feet apart in the bed.

Before you use the cold treatment here is information for sowing the seed.
Sowing
Seed Depth: ¼" (6mm)
Germination soil temperature: 70-80ºF (21-27ºC)
Days to Germination: 10-14
Sow indoors: Late winter to early spring- 10 weeks before last frost.
Sow outdoors: Not recommended.
Growing
pH range: 6.5 - 8.0
Growing soil temperature: 60-75ºF (16-24ºC)
Spacing in beds: 24" (60 cm)
Watering: Heavy
Light: 8 hours or more per day
Nutrient requirements: N=high, P=high, K=high
Rotation considerations: Avoid following Jerusalem artichoke or sunflower.
Good companions: Sunflower and Tarragon
Bad companions: None