How many plants for average family:
1 – 2 per person

Type of plant:
perennial

Best Varieties:
Green Globe.

Sowing:
Grow from suckers to produce a quicker yield.
Can be purchased as potted plants.
Available autumn and winter.
Allow plenty of room between plants.

Growing Habit:
Large spreading plants.

Growing Conditions:
Enrich area with lots of manure and compost.
Requires good drainage.
Mulch with lucerne to continue feeding.
Bears fruit after 2 years and yield slows down after 4 years.
Divide plants when yield slows.

Companions:

Problems:
Crown rot can be caused from bad drainage and high humidity.

For further information:

Edible Flower Buds of a Gorgeous Thistle
Edible Flower Buds of a Gorgeous Thistle. The globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus), also called "French artichoke" and "green artichoke," derives its common name from the northern Italian words articiocco and articoclos.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/publications/vege...etravelers/artichoke.html

Recipes from Mediterranean Vegetables
... (617)423-5803. Artichoke. Cynara scolymus L. ( ... The type of artichoke you are most likely to find on the market is the globe artichoke, an Italian ...
http://www.harvardcommonpress.com/Cooking/regional/medvegrecipes.html

Artichoke
Cynara scolymus (Artichoke) ACTION. Bitter, Lowers blood cholesterol, diuretic, Liver tonic, lowers blood sugar. Cynara scolymus, like Carduus marianus protects the liver against toxins and infection ( ... dramatic increase in HDL cholesterol, artichoke caused a decrease in value of ...
http://www.friedli.com/herbs/artichoke.html

Artichoke Recipes brought to you by Artichoke Advisory Board of California
Yummy artichoke dips and sauces. Don't miss these fine artichoke recipes! ... Method: Slice artichoke tops off, crosswise. Trim Stems ... Cut each artichoke in half lengthwise and scrape out fuzzy center and any purple tipped petals ...
http://www.artichokes.org/recipes.html

artichokes, artichoke farming, nutrition, recipes | Artichokes.net
artichokes, artichoke farming, nutrition and recipes from Baroda Farms, your source for the unusual, sensuous vegetable! ... The artichoke is an edible thistle, brought to California by Italians in the 1800's. The state's first artichoke farm was planted near the Bay Area. ...
http://www.artichokes.net