When to Plant Artichokes in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
Also called globe artichoke.
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Canberra), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Cold / Highland
In October the Cold / Highland zone normally runs 20°C by day and 7°C overnight, with about 58 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -6.4°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 15 postcodes, SILO.
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This Artichokes guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Aug to Nov
- Days to harvest
- about 52 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 100 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.5–7.5
Globe artichokes are large, thistle-like perennials originating from the Mediterranean. They produce edible flower buds over a 4-5 year productive lifespan.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Cold / Highland
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug S
- Sep S
- Oct T
- Nov T
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Artichokes in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, deep, fertile sandy loam enriched with compost and aged manure
- Salt
- Moderately tolerant. Handles slightly salty water better than most veggies.
- pH Range
- 6.5-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun (minimum 6 hours direct)
- Spacing
- 100cm apart, 150cm between rows
- Watering
- Deep watering twice weekly during bud development. Reduce in winter dormancy. Consistent moisture is critical during bud formation or buds will be small and tough.
- Good companions
- Sunflower, French tarragon
- Keep away from
- Other Asteraceae competing for nutrients
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Artichokes
Recommended Varieties
- Green Globe
- Violetto di Romagna
Key Challenges
- Hard frosts killing buds and crowns
- Short growing season
- Snow and ice damage
Pro Tips
- Heavy winter mulching of crowns is critical, 20cm+ of straw
- Consider growing in large pots that can be moved to shelter in extreme cold
- Harvest window is compressed to November-February
Pests and problems for Artichokes in Cold / Highland
- Powdery Mildew Moderate
- Common Garden Snail Watch
- Slugs Watch
- Botrytis Rot (Grey Mould) Space plants generously for airflow. Harvest buds promptly when ready. Avoid overhead irrigation. Remove all spent foliage at season end. Watch
- Crown Rot Plant in raised beds with excellent drainage. Avoid overwatering in winter. Pull mulch back from crown base during wet periods. Choose... Watch
Harvesting Artichokes
When ready: Buds should be tight, compact, and heavy for their size. Bracts (scales) should still be tightly closed. The main central bud is harvested first at about 8-10cm diameter, which promotes development of smaller side buds.
How to harvest: Cut stem 5-8cm below the bud with sharp secateurs. Harvest in the morning. Once bracts start to open or turn purple at tips, the bud is past prime and will be tough and fibrous.
Storing and preserving artichokes
How to keep it
- Freezing. Trim artichokes, remove tough outer leaves and choke. Cut into quarters or leave baby artichokes whole. Blanch in boiling water with lemon juice for 3-5 minutes (depending on size). Ice bath immediately. Drain well, pat dry, spread on tray to flash-freeze, then transfer to freezer bags. Keeps: 6-8 months.
- Marinated in Oil (Antipasto Style). Trim and quarter artichoke hearts. Simmer in a mix of 2 parts white wine vinegar, 1 part water with salt for 5 minutes. Drain well and pack into sterilised jars with garlic, herbs (oregano, thyme), peppercorns. Cover completely with olive oil. Seal and refrigerate. Keeps: 3-4 weeks refrigerated. For longer storage, process sealed jars in boiling water bath for 15 minutes (6-12 months shelf stable)..
- Pickled. Prepare artichoke hearts. Bring 500ml white vinegar, 500ml water, 2 tbsp salt and 1 tbsp sugar to boil. Pack hearts into hot sterilised jars, pour over hot brine, leaving 1cm headspace. Process in boiling water bath for 15 minutes. Keeps: 12 months sealed in cool dark place.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Artichokes
When do you plant artichokes in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to Aug
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): May to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Aug to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Aug to Nov
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Apr, Aug to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to Aug
Can you grow artichokes all year round in Canberra?
No. In the Cold / Highland zone the planting months are Aug to Nov. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
What else is artichokes called?
Artichokes is the usual Australian name. Overseas seed packets and recipes call it globe artichoke. Same plant, same growing advice.
When should I plant Artichokes in Canberra?
Plant rooted suckers or offsets in late winter to mid spring, or raise seedlings under cover and plant out once hard frosts ease. Mulch crowns heavily before winter, as the hardest highland frosts can kill exposed plants.
What soil temperature do Artichokes need?
Artichokes germinate best when soil temperature is between 15°C and 20°C.
How do I know when Artichokes are ready to harvest?
Buds should be tight, compact, and heavy for their size. Bracts (scales) should still be tightly closed. The main central bud is harvested first at about 8-10cm diameter, which promotes development of smaller side buds.
What are the best Artichokes varieties for Canberra?
Recommended varieties for the Cold / Highland zone include: Green Globe, Violetto di Romagna.
What grows well with Artichokes?
Good companion plants for Artichokes include: Sunflower, French tarragon.
Are artichokes salt tolerant?
Fairly. Artichokes are moderately tolerant of salt and handle slightly salty water better than most veggies.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.