Crop type: Globe artichokes
Cynara cardunculus (Scolymus Group) 'Green Globe Improved'
Common name: globe artichoke 'Green Globe Improved'
Crop slug: globe-artichokes
This Allotment Pro editorial draft summarises the cited RHS cultivar profile.RHS cultivar profile
1 - Overview
'Green Globe Improved' is an architectural herbaceous perennial bred for larger, more consistent globe-artichoke crops and fewer sharp spines. Its tall columnar plant carries grey-green foliage and edible fleshy green flower buds wrapped in thick green scales. Unharvested buds open into thistle-like purple flowers in summer and autumn, providing nectar and pollen for insects.
The cultivar can reach about 1.8m tall and is useful where a grower wants an imposing edible plant as well as a reliable crop. Harvest the large green buds tightly closed; leave selected buds only when their purple pollinator flowers are wanted.
2 - Size
- Ultimate height
- 1.5–2.5m
- Ultimate spread
- 1–1.5m
- Time to ultimate size
- 2–5 years
3 - Growing conditions
- Suitable soils
- Chalk, loam and sand
- Moisture
- Well-drained
- Soil pH
- Acid, alkaline or neutral
4 - Position and hardiness
- Light
- Full sun
- Aspect
- South-facing or west-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- Hardiness
- H5 — hardy in most UK locations even during severe winters, tolerating the RHS band of about -15 to -10°C; dry winter mulch is still advised in very cold or northern areas
5 - Colour and seasonal interest
| Season | Flowers | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Green | Grey and silver | — |
| Summer | Purple and green | Grey and silver | — |
| Autumn | Purple and green | Grey and silver | — |
| Winter | — | — | — |
Green entries include the scaled edible buds, while purple records the thistle-like flowers that appear if those buds are not harvested.
6 - Botanical details
- Family
- Asteraceae
- Native to Great Britain and Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Name status
- Not established
Genus
Cynara contains robust thistle-like plants with grey-hairy, deeply divided leaves and rounded purple flower heads. Globe artichokes are selected forms in which the fleshy unopened flower bud is the edible crop.
7 - How to grow
Cultivation
Grow 'Green Globe Improved' in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun and shelter its tall stems from strong wind. The profile's H5 hardiness is strong, but a dry mulch of bark or straw gives worthwhile insurance in very cold winters or northern districts.
Use the parent globe-artichoke guide for sowing, wide spacing, first-year establishment, division and harvest. Its large spread needs generous room, and fewer spines make routine handling and picking more convenient.
Propagation
Propagate by seed. Once a desirable plant is established, the parent guide also explains division and offsets for producing identical replacements.
Suggested locations
- Architectural planting
- Cottage and informal gardens
- Mediterranean-style planting
- Cut flowers
Pruning
After cropping ends, cut down flowered stems and old foliage in autumn. Spent foliage may be used to protect the crown where winter conditions are severe.
Pests
Young plants may be susceptible to slugs, snails and blackfly. Inspect tender growth and developing buds regularly and protect seedlings while they establish.
Diseases
The profile describes this cultivar as generally disease-free.