Artichoke in Zone 11a & 11b
Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus
Yes, artichoke grows in zones 11a and 11b. Start seeds indoors Oct 23–Oct 30 and plant out Dec 11–Dec 18.
When to plant artichoke in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. It needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.
| Start indoors | Oct 23–Oct 30 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Dec 11–Dec 18 |
| Estimated harvest | Mar 16–Mar 23 (~95 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: about 5 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 3-4 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 11b
These go outside within two weeks of artichoke in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.
- Broccoli Rabe (Raab)Dec 11–Dec 18
- MizunaDec 11–Dec 18
- TatsoiDec 11–Dec 18
- Flower SproutsDec 18–Dec 25
- Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli)Dec 18–Dec 25
- KalettesDec 18–Dec 25
Artichoke is grown for its unopened flower bud, harvested before the purple thistle-flower inside ever gets the chance to open. It's a perennial in mild-winter climates and an annual everywhere else, and either way it needs garden space. This isn't a plant for a tight square-foot grid.
How artichoke fits zone 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Artichoke planting windows in every zone
Zone 11b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4a & 4b | Mar 6–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 1 | Jul 28–Aug 4 |
| 5a & 5b | Mar 1–Mar 8 | Apr 19–Apr 26 | Jul 23–Jul 30 |
| 6a & 6b | Feb 14–Feb 21 | Apr 4–Apr 11 | Jul 8–Jul 15 |
| 7a & 7b | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Mar 20–Mar 27 | Jun 23–Jun 30 |
| 8a & 8b | Jan 14–Jan 21 | Mar 4–Mar 11 | Jun 7–Jun 14 |
| 9a & 9b | Dec 7–Dec 14 | Jan 25–Feb 1 | Apr 30–May 7 |
| 10a & 10bFall window | Aug–Dec | Oct–Feb | ~95 days after transplanting |
| 11a & 11b (your zone) | Oct 23–Oct 30 | Dec 11–Dec 18 | Mar 16–Mar 23 |
Harvest dates are about 95 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Good companions
No well-established companions for artichoke.
Where to buy artichoke seeds
Botanical Interests · Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's artichoke seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- 'Imperial Star': Bred specifically to bud reliably as a first-year annual, which is the whole problem with growing artichoke outside zones 7-10. Buy: True Leaf Market · Burpee Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing artichoke" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Artichoke in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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