Imperial Star Certified Organic Artichoke Vegetable Seeds - West Coast Seeds - AR103A

PRODUCT DETAILS

CERTIFIED ORGANIC! These tall, hardy plants produce seven to eight highly uniform, nearly spineless buds in the first growing season. The buds are sweet and tender. Imperial Star Organic artichoke seeds are a great choice for the home gardener or for open field production. The plants grow 90-120cm (36-48") tall. This variety is sometimes listed under the name Tavor. It's a bit easier to get first-season harvests from Imperial Star than some of the other artichoke varieties, but it is also perennial, so it will produce for several years to come. The buds are a terrific mid-summer treat.

• Matures in 85-90 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)
• Sweet taste
• Thornless, highly uniform
• Cold hardy
• Open-pollinated seeds

All About Imperial Star Organic

• Latin:

  Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus

• Difficulty:

  Moderately challenging.

• We Recommend:

  Imperial Star (AR103). Harvesting artichokes in the first year of growth is a real benefit for growers. Imperial Star grows beautifully in an open field situation.

• Season:

  Cool season
  Exposure: Full sun
  Zone: 6 (hardy in Zone 5 if you use mulch and cloche cover)

• Timing:

  Start indoors in late winter, four to six weeks before the last frost date. Keep seedlings under bright lights.

• Starting:

  Sow two seeds per pot, 5mm (¼”) deep. Keep moist in a warm place until seeds germinate in 10 to 21 days. Transplant seedlings into the garden 2 weeks after the last average frost date for your area. Artichokes need a cool period (250 hours — approximately 10 to 11 days) below 10°C (50°F) to induce flowering in the first year, but will not survive hard frost. Space plants 1m (3′) apart. Seeds can also be germinated between damp sheets of paper towel.

• Days to Maturity:

  From transplant.

• Growing:

  Ideal pH: 5.6-6.6. Select a sunny, sheltered location with well-draining soil. Dig in lots of compost or rotted manure and add 1/2 to 1 cup of complete organic fertilizer per plant. On the coast, with protective mulch, these plants may overwinter. Approximately two weeks before the last frost date (or if hard frost is forecast) cut the plants back to 15cm (6″) tall, and mulch well with straw, soil, leaves, or burlap, to keep the roots from freezing. Uncover after the last frost date.

• Seed Info:

  In optimum conditions at least 70% of seeds will germinate. Usual seed life: 1 year.