Artichoke Artist

ARTIST is a variety of artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L.) intended for cultivation in garden and vegetable plots. The plant reaches a height of up to 150 cm, and the flower heads are egg-shaped, weighing about 80–90 g. The leaves are green, pinnately lobed, the scales are purple and tightly pressed against the stem with a pointed tip.

The variety features medium-late maturing flower heads: young ones can be consumed fresh, medium ones can be canned or pickled, and mature ones can be used in boiled and stewed dishes. The inner flower (fleshy receptacle) and the juicy bases of the outer scales possess unique healing properties: they contain inulin, contribute to lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels.

Yield reaches 1.4–1.5 kg of flower heads per square meter. In the first year, the plant forms 5–7 flower heads, and in the second year, 10–12. The planting scheme provides a distance of 90×80 cm between plants. In southern regions, the artichoke can be grown as a perennial, while in the central strip, it is an annual crop grown via seedlings. Each gram of the product contains 24–26 seeds.