Traditional artichoke was vegetatively reproduced and the plant was grown for several or many years without replanting. The grower would split the crown or stump or would take nodules or take shoots off the stump. The resulting plant was genetically identical to the mother plant (with some exceptions). The plants were uniform and the cost of stand establishment modest when spread out over years. The problems were the virus and certain pests. Virus would accumulate in the plants. Most fortunately were not deadly, but would reduce plant vigor. In California, we have a nasty pest, the artichoke plume moth that would lay eggs in the stump. It was a difficult pest to control. Also, mice, vols, snails, slugs, and gophers would take residence in the field.

Seeded artichokes would virtually block virus transmission and the nasty pests would have to start from scratch. Since they had no virus and could be planted staggered the production could be staggered over the entire year. Annual varieties had some problems. The artichoke was never bred to be uniform and there was a large problem with off types. Some off types would not produce in the summer. There has been great effort to be early. Earliness often meant a less dense artichoke. Most of the newer varieties are hybrids (different mother and father). There is a hybrid vigor component. Hybrid seeds cost more than the open pollinated types. They have then advantage of vigor and protection. Often hybrids do not produce uniform seeds from seeds. If you buy a hybrid seeds and try to grow your own seeds, the output is inferior. This protects the breeder and seed company’s often significant investment. Even when you have mature uniform breeding lines, the time from crosses to commercial growing is long, often 5 years or more. Developing the mature breeding lines takes even more time.

American artichokes have been traditionally grown in coastal California. With the annual (seed) production, they are also grown in the southern California coast (Oxnard), desert (Coachella Valley and Imperial Valley), and Arizona. There is commercial production in central Mexico. The tropics are not kind to artichokes as the high humidity and lack of temperate climate limits commercial production. Since it is a relatively long crop from transplant many places in the Midwest and East see artichokes only in gardens.

There is a large processing acreage in South America, Peru, and Chile (mostly Peru). The European market is large and complex. Italy, France, and Spain are the largest producers and consumers. Greece and Turkey also grow substantial acreage. Northern Africa export early artichokes into Europe.

Home gardener aside. When you buy plants or seeds from your local garden center, the seeds are not of commercial quality. If you get edible artichokes, …. Be careful, or slugs, snails, gophers and especially aphids. After the aphids come ants Just a warning to the wise.