Oakes Irrigation Research
Site
Carrington Research Extension Center * North Dakota State University
P.O. Box 531, Oakes, ND 58474-0531, Voice: (701) 742-2189, FAX: (701)
742-2700, email: rgreenla@ndsuext.nodak.edu
ARTICHOKE PRELIMINARY TRIAL, 2001
Richard Greenland
It was suggested that if artichokes could be grown in North Dakota, there would be a good market for them because they would mature in the fall when the market price is highest. This preliminary study was designed to see if artichokes could be grown in our climate.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Soil: |
Maddock sandy loam; pH=6.8; 2.0% organic matter; soil-P was high; soil-K was very high; soil-S was very low. |
Previous crops: |
2000 - field corn; 1999 - soybean; 1998 - pumpkin. |
Seedbed preparation: |
Disked on April 20. Multiweeded (field cultivated) on May 8 to incorporate fertilizer and smooth seedbed. |
Planting: |
‘Emerald’ artichokes (from D. Palmer Seed Co.) were started in the greenhouse on March 1 and transplanted to the field on May 9. Rows were 7 ft apart. In-row spacing varied from 2 to 4 ft. |
Plots: |
Plots were 20 ft long by 21 ft (3 rows) wide. |
Fertilizer: |
On April 19, broadcast 10 lbs N/acre and 50 lbs P2O5/acre as 10-50-0 and 18 lbs N/acre and 20 lbs S/acre as 21-0-0-24. Sprayed 50 lbs N/acre as 28-0-0 on May 5. Spread 35 lbs N/acre as urea on June 20. |
Irrigation: |
Underground drip irrigation as needed. |
Pest Control: |
Weeds were controlled by rototilling and hand weeding. Sprayed DiPel (2 lb/acre on July 2, 1 lb/acre on July 9, July 25, Aug 1, and Aug 8) to control insects (especially the painted-lady butterfly larvae). The larvae were also hand picked from many plants. |
Harvest: |
Not harvested. |
RESULTS
The plants grew well at first. They were attacked by the larvae of the painted-lady butterfly. These were controlled and caused only minor damage. As the summer got warmer, the plants changed from vegetative growth to reproductive growth. The plants were only 1 to 1.5 ft tall when this change occurred - much too small to produce good chokes. After starting to produce chokes, the plants didn’t get any bigger and eventually died without producing any good chokes.
Most artichokes need to be vernalized to produce chokes. The vernalization process is accomplished by up to 1300 hours of temperatures below 50°F, depending on variety. Some reports indicate that the variety Emerald may not need to be vernalized or can be vernalized with very few hours of cold. If artichoke production is to be successful in North Dakota, a way must be found to keep the artichokes from producing chokes until the plants are 4 to 6 ft tall. Choke production may be delayed by: 1) a different variety that needs more vernalization or that is tolerant to warm summer temperatures; or 2) direct seeding in May or transplanting in June so the plant is not vernalized until late August or September.
Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site Variety Performance Trials
Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site 2001 annual report