The effect of planting time on the flowering of globe artichoke

Abstract

Artichoke cultivars vary in the extent to which apical dominance is able to suppress the growth of the basal shoots which are used subsequently for propagation.

It is suggested that cultivars expressing strong apical dominance are most suited to conditions in Canterbury as shoots from plants flowering during late spring and early summer will be available the following spring, which is the optimum time for planting.

No indications were found in the reported trial that vernalisation was necessary for the initiation of flowering. One cultivar of three tested failed to flower in the first season from cuttings which had been produced during the previous winter period and another flowered only partially.

Flower initials were observed in dissected shoots as early as January and flower buds were clearly visible on many shoots of two cultivars and in one treatment plot of the third by mid March.

The flowering of shoots arising during summer was only partial and could be related to shoot size. When shoots were removed from the mother plants as cuttings in February, flowering was inhibited or delayed for six months.