Artichoke Varieties  

	Globe-shaped in winter and spring
	Conical in summer and fall
	Green color, some purple at base in summer
	Thorns prominent in summer and fall. Less developed in winter and spring.
	Compact appearance
	Winter harvests may show frost damage on outer bracts, a cosmetic defect only. Frost tends to enhance "nutty" flavor of artichoke.

Size:

18, 24, 30, 36, 48, 60 count, large loose (cocktail) and small loose (baby)

Characteristics:

	Good edibility on bracts (petals)
	Heavy bottom (heart) relative to size
	All marketed sizes are mature.

Seasonality:

Year-round availability with a spring peak period

Method of Propagation:

Cloned from root stock

Handling:

	Refrigerate at 34 degrees F. (0 degrees C)
	Keep moist - 95% humidity
	OK to "top ice"
	Trim stems and place in crushed ice for best appearance.

Geographic Area:

Central coast of California with a heavy concentration near Castroville.

	Shape varies conical to round throughout season.
	Green color
	Thorns, but not prominent
	Compact appearance
	Winter harvests may show frost damage on outer bracts, a cosmetic defect only. Frost tends to enhance "nutty" flavor of artichoke.

Size:

18, 24, 30, 36, 48, 60 count, large loose (cocktail) and small loose (baby)

Characteristics:

	Bracts (petals) have good, edible portions.
	Bottoms (hearts) are well-developed.
	All marketed sizes are mature.

Seasonality:

Winter through early spring

Method of Propagation:

Seed

Handling:

	Refrigerate at 34 degrees F. (0 degrees C)
	Keep moist - 95% humidity
	OK to "top ice"
	Trim stems and place in crushed ice for best appearance.

Geographic Area:

	Southern California inland desert valleys.
	Oxnard: coastal valley

	Thornless
	Shape generally conical. Wide base even more pronounced in summer.
	Green color with purple tinge most pronounced at base of artichoke. Purple more pronounced in summer.
	Winter harvests may show frost damage on outer bracts, a cosmetic defect only. Frost tends to enhance "nutty" flavor of artichoke.

Size:

8, 18, 24, 36, 48 count

Characteristics:

	Good flavor
	Wide heart

Seasonality:

Nearly year-round availability

Method of Propagation:

Big Heart" was among the first commercially available seed-propagated artichoke. Grown as an annual, plantings can be staggered for year-round harvest.

Handling:

	Refrigerate at 34 degrees F. (0 degrees C)
	Keep moist - 95% humidity
	OK to "top ice"
	Trim stems and place in crushed ice for best appearance.

Geographic Area:

	Lompoc: coastal valley north of Santa Barbara, California.
	Imperial: inland desert valley

	Thornless
	Glossy, green color
	Shape generally conical; seasonal variations will be rounded
	Compact appearance.
	Winter harvests may show frost damage on outer bracts, a cosmetic defect only. Frost tends to enhance the flavor.

Size:

18, 24, 36, 48, 60 count

Characteristics:

	Edible stem
	Bracts (petals) have good, edible portions
	Bottoms (hearts) are well-developed

Seasonality:

Year-round with peak production in spring

Method of Propagation:

	Seed
	Developed by and licensed through the University of California

Handling:

	Refrigerate at 34 degrees F. (0 degrees C)
	Keep moist - 95% humidity
	OK to "top ice"
	Trim stems and place in crushed ice for best appearance.

Geographic Area:

	Widely adaptable
	Imperial and Coachella valleys.
	Sacramento/San Joaquin valleys
	Central coast of California