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Artichoke Varieties
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A Year-round Variety
Description:
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Globe-shaped in winter
and spring |
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Conical in summer and fall |
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Green color, some purple at base in summer |
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Thorns prominent in summer and fall. Less developed in winter and spring. |
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Compact appearance |
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Winter harvests may show frost damage on outer bracts, a cosmetic defect only. Frost tends to enhance "nutty" flavor of artichoke. |
Size:
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18, 24, 30, 36, 48, 60 count, large loose (cocktail) and small loose (baby) |
Characteristics:
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Good edibility on bracts (petals) |
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Heavy bottom (heart) relative to size |
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All marketed sizes are mature. |
Seasonality:
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Year-round availability with a spring peak period |
Method of Propagation:
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Cloned from root stock |
Handling:
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Refrigerate at 34 degrees F. (0 degrees C) |
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Keep moist - 95% humidity |
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OK to "top ice" |
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Trim stems and place in crushed ice for best appearance. |
Geographic Area:
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Central coast of California with a heavy concentration near Castroville. |
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A Winter & Early Spring Variety
Description:
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Shape varies conical to round throughout season. |
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Green color |
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Thorns, but not prominent |
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Compact appearance |
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Winter harvests may show frost damage on outer bracts, a cosmetic defect only. Frost tends to enhance "nutty" flavor of artichoke. |
Size:
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18, 24, 30, 36, 48, 60 count, large loose (cocktail) and small loose (baby) |
Characteristics:
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Bracts (petals) have good, edible portions. |
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Bottoms (hearts) are well-developed. |
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All marketed sizes are mature. |
Seasonality:
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Winter through early spring |
Method of Propagation:
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Seed |
Handling:
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Refrigerate at 34 degrees F. (0 degrees C) |
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Keep moist - 95% humidity |
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OK to "top ice" |
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Trim stems and place in crushed ice for best appearance. |
Geographic Area:
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Southern California inland desert valleys. |
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Oxnard: coastal valley |
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A Thornless Variety
Description:
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Thornless |
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Shape generally conical. Wide base even more pronounced in summer. |
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Green color with purple tinge most pronounced at base of artichoke. Purple more pronounced in summer. |
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Winter harvests may show frost damage on outer bracts, a cosmetic defect only. Frost tends to enhance "nutty" flavor of artichoke. |
Size:
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8, 18, 24, 36, 48 count |
Characteristics:
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Good flavor |
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Wide heart |
Seasonality:
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Nearly year-round availability |
Method of Propagation:
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Big Heart" was among the first commercially available seed-propagated artichoke. Grown as an annual, plantings can be staggered for year-round harvest. |
Handling:
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Refrigerate at 34 degrees F. (0 degrees C) |
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Keep moist - 95% humidity |
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OK to "top ice" |
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Trim stems and place in crushed ice for best appearance. |
Geographic Area:
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Lompoc: coastal valley north of Santa Barbara, California. |
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Imperial: inland desert valley |
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A Year-Round, Thornless Variety
Description:
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Thornless |
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Glossy, green color |
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Shape generally conical; seasonal variations will be rounded |
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Compact appearance. |
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Winter harvests may show frost damage on outer bracts, a cosmetic defect only. Frost tends to enhance the flavor. |
Size:
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18, 24, 36, 48, 60 count |
Characteristics:
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Edible stem |
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Bracts (petals) have good, edible portions |
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Bottoms (hearts) are well-developed |
Seasonality:
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Year-round with peak production in spring |
Method of Propagation:
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Seed |
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Developed by and licensed through the University of California |
Handling:
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Refrigerate at 34 degrees F. (0 degrees C) |
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Keep moist - 95% humidity |
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OK to "top ice" |
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Trim stems and place in crushed ice for best appearance. |
Geographic Area:
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Widely adaptable |
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Imperial and Coachella valleys. |
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Sacramento/San Joaquin valleys |
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Central coast of California |
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