Size of a Globe Artichoke Plant

Plant Width and Height

• A healthy artichoke plant grows between 3 and 5 feet tall and wide. It produces ragged green leaves that have a silver sheen. In fact, the leaves take on a fern-like shape as the plant grows larger. An immature artichoke plant must have any flowerheads removed to stimulate more foliage growth. Your plant cannot produce substantial flowerheads for the dinner table without a wide, spreading canopy photosynthesizing continuously. To encourage a bushy plant, irrigate the artichoke consistently to avoid any soil drying. Roots respond to the moisture and spread horizontally and vertically for ample nutrient and water uptake.

Bud Size

• Although foliage size is an important factor for a healthy artichoke, your flowerheads, or buds, should be between 2 and 5 inches wide as you harvest them. After they take up to 4 months to mature, cut the buds from the plant before they blossom. Your artichoke bud consists of numerous bracts tightly concealing the inner flower portion, or choke. Once you notice that the lowest bracts are slowly pulling away from the bud, cut the flowerhead off. If you do not want to consume your flowerheads, allow them to open naturally. The emerging flowers produce a vibrant color and scent.

Temperature Influence

• Your artichoke plants may not grow to full size if they are subjected to unusually hot weather -- growth stunting occurs with heat stress and possible drought conditions. In general, normal growth occurs when night temperatures remain around 55 degrees Fahrenheit with a mild daily temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit. You may not see any buds form if chilly temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit do not occur. Artichokes need up to 10 days of cool temperatures for bud stimulation and growth.

Plant Spacing

• Encouraging a spreading artichoke plant requires proper spacing. In general, maintain a 2- to 3-foot spacing between your artichokes and other plants. Artichokes need to spread their feeder roots for nutrient and moisture uptake, along with a penetrating taproot for anchorage. This taproot also searches for nutrients deep within the soil to use as much energy as possible for photosynthesis and bud formation.