When you think of artichokes, you probably think of health freaks. But the truth is that artichokes can be delicious if you know how to cook them correctly! Oven-roasted artichokes drizzled with honey are quite the treat.
Hydroponic artichokes don’t take much work and are a very rewarding addition to your hydroponic garden. Next time you’re looking to add a vegetable to a dish, you won’t have to look far! Fresh artichokes are the answer.
Read on for the complete guide about how to grow hydroponic artichokes!
Can You Grow artichokes Hydroponically?
You can definitely grow artichokes hydroponically. Hydroponic artichokes are healthy, fresh, and affordable. Plus you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you grew them yourself!
Now let’s talk about some varieties of artichokes that you have to choose from.
Varieties of artichokes to grow hydroponically
Artichokes originate from the Mediterranean Region. Different type of artichoke to grow hydroponically include: Globe artichokes, Baby Anzio artichokes, Chianti artichokes, Imperial Star artichokes, and more!
- Globe artichokes are the most popular kind of artichokes in the United States. You’ll recognize their deep green color that sometimes has a slightly purple tint.
- Baby Anzio artichokes are the smallest variety of artichoke and are only a couple of inches- usually just two- across! Harvest them early for a sweet flavor.
- Chianti artichokes are up to five inches wide. They’re maroon in color with green at the tips. They’re often served stuffed with cheese and dried tomatoes.
- Imperial Star artichokes are the most popular variety of artichoke to grow at home. They’re similar, although slightly sweeter, in taste compared to your typical Globe artichoke.
But don’t end your search here! There are limitless unique varieties of artichokes and you’re sure to find one that catches your attention, even if it’s not on this list.
What Are The Benefits Of Growing artichokes Hydroponically?
There are a lot of benefits of growing artichokes hydroponically. One day, soil-free gardening likely be the main form of gardening and crop production in the world!
Hydroponics is the most efficient way of growing crops. Depending on what method you use, you can use up to 99% less water than traditional gardening methods!
You can also grow all year round. Even if you live somewhere with a three-month growing season, you’re able to have fresh veggies at your will.
With indoor hydroponic systems, you don’t have to worry about pests, common diseases, or soil-borne disease- all the bane of soil gardeners’ existence!
Hydroponic artichokes can truly thrive because you’re in control of every aspect of the growing process. You get to dial in the nutrients, pH, light, heat, and more- all tailored exactly to what artichokes need.
No soil needed! This means you don’t have to worry about having fertile soil or the right garden soils for your garden.
On top of that, you will have one of the world’s healthiest vegetables on hand at all times- encouraging you to eat it more often!
Health Benefits of Artichokes
Artichokes are one of the healthiest vegetables out there. Although don’t be mistaken- they’re technically a type of thistle!
Artichokes are rich in antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and fiber. They’re especially chock-full of folate and vitamins K and C. They’re also packed with iron, potassium and iron.
To demonstrate- one medium artichoke contains almost 30% of your recommended daily fiber intake!
It doesn’t stop there. Artichokes can potentially:
- Lower “bad” cholesterol and increase “good” cholesterol
- Regulate blood pressure
- Improve liver health
- Promote positive gut bacteria
- Ease IBS
- Lower blood sugar
- Impair cancer growth due to their antioxidants
And more!
Light for artichokes
Artichokes aren’t as hungry for light as other hydroponic plants- they only need about six hours of light per day to mimic their outdoor growing environment.
That being said, consider playing around with lighting to see what your specific variety likes best!
Whatever kind of hydroponic lights you already have- ranging from LEDs to HIDs- will do the trick. No need to fuss too much over lighting.
Just be sure not to overheat seeds while they germinate if you have lights that give off a lot of heat. Keep the lights high enough above your seeds to avoid overheating.
Nutrient solution for hydroponic artichokes
Hydroponic artichokes aren’t picky about the NPK value of their liquid hydroponic fertilizer- most standard hydroponic fertilizers will do.
It’s vital to get a fertilizer that’s specific to hydroponics. Traditionally-grown artichoke get micronutrients from the soil, so traditional fertilizers don’t contain as many micronutrients.
Meanwhile, hydroponic plants only get the nutrients provided to them by the fertilizer. Hydroponic fertilizers account for this deficit and have adequate micronutrients in them to make sure your plants thrive.
Look for a pH range of 6.5-7.5 and keep a PPM of 560-1260.
Do artichokes grow well in containers?
Artichokes grow well hydroponically in containers so long as the containers are large enough. Artichokes can grow quite tall with vast root systems!
You’ll need two containers that are at least a meter wide and a foot deep. Put drainage holes at the bottom and lower sides of one container.
Fill that container up with vermiculite or clay pebbles and transfer a young artichoke plant into the growing medium once it’s sturdy enough. Both of these growing media provide good water retention balanced with quick drainage.
Place that container inside of the other one. Water your artichoke by adding water to the outer container. The water will drain into the inner container where the grow medium will soak up the nutrient-rich water and bring it to the roots.
When the roots are no longer wet, add more water!
Keep in mind that this is not the only way to grow artichokes hydroponically. You can grow them in any hydroponic setup the way you would with any other crop and get a productive harvest either way.
Can you grow artichokes in a 5 gallon bucket?
Unfortunately, a 5 gallon bucket isn’t large enough for most varieties of artichokes. However, Baby Anzio artichokes may be small enough to grow in a 5 gallon bucket. Even then, you probably won’t have high yields of artichokes using a 5 gallon bucket.
The majority of artichoke varieties can reach over a meter tall and have extensive artichoke root systems that require more room than a 5 gallon bucket provides.
Conclusion
Alas, the mighty artichoke isn’t as complicated as it may seem! You can grow delicious artichokes with ease. If you’re looking to have something healthy on hand and avoid an unnecessary trip to the grocery store, hydroponic artichokes may be the answer for you.
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