Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners is a citizen science program





'Imperial Star' Artichoke - Globe
 
Sub-Category: None
 
Sub-Category 2:
Description: Grows 3- to 4-feet tall and bears 3 to 8, 4-inch-diameter buds. Can tolerate light but not hard frost.
Days To Maturity: 80-120
Seed Sources: Gurneys Seed & Nursery Co. - updated in 2019
Henry Field's Seed and Nursery Co. - updated in 2013

 
Rating Summary
 
Overall: (2.8 Stars)Overall
Taste: (2.2 Stars)Taste
Yield: (2.3 Stars)Yield
Ease/Reliability: (2.3 Stars)Ease/Reliability
 
Reviews
 
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Number of Reviews: 6

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KEY: O=Overall Rating, T=Taste, Y=Yield, E=Ease

Reviewed on 03/10/2010 by pointydog - An experienced gardener

Overall Overall
Taste Taste
Yield Yield
Ease/Reliability Ease

Orange, New York, United States
Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

While Green globe produces nicer buds that are full and more like what you find in the market, I like Imperial star and grow it as well. It produces many more smaller buds, just right for a snack or single servings. the flavor is good and they keep well. I buy mine as seedlings from Natural Gardening Company. I have not had much success with any artichokes from seed. I have no connection to Natural Gardening Company, just a very happy customer. Imperial Star will overwinter here and produces much better the second year, but even with the best protection will sometimes not survive a harsh winter. To overwinter I leave them in the garden and cut back to 18" tall. I surround all the artichoke plants with bales of straw and loosely pack the interior with fallen leaves. Cover the top with an old window frame or sheet plastic. They are attractive plants and could be grown and overwintered in the border or flower garden too.
 

Reviewed on 03/08/2009 by hathaway - An experienced gardener

Overall Overall
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Knox, Maine, United States
Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day

i have never grown chokes before so i don't have anything against which to compare. i was thrilled by the productivity.....3-5 per plant. however i had miserable results w/ this supposedly easy germinating seed. 6 weeks inside on heated pad and then 6 weeks in the hoophouse until i put them outside here in midcoast maine. full sun, we had good weather and some fog. i'm trying again this year, 2009, but once again germination is negative so far(started 2/21.) it is gorgeous and really fun to grow.
 

Reviewed on 03/23/2008 by Beltsville E - An experienced gardener

Overall Overall
Taste Taste
Yield Yield
Ease/Reliability Ease

Prince Georges, Maryland, United States
Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

It's a very large, beautiful plant. It wilts in the mid-day hot sun, but springs back in the late afternoon. It did not produce any chokes until October and then only one medium-sized choke followed by one small choke -- not a lot of edible vegetable for the amount of space that the plant needs. These plants should be planted at least 4 to 5 feet apart on center.
 

Reviewed on 01/09/2007 by ant - An experienced gardener

Overall Overall
Taste
Yield
Ease/Reliability Ease

Logan, Illinois, United States
Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

I keep trying to grow these. I have yet to get an artichoke. I start them early to trick them into thinking they've been through winter but to no avail. When it gets hot they get black aphids and if I don't spray them constantly they're goners. I have my roots from 2006 in my crawl space and am going to try them once more in 2007.
 

Reviewed on 07/30/2005 by NH Seacoast - An intermediate gardener

Overall Overall
Taste Taste
Yield Yield
Ease/Reliability Ease

New Hampshire, United States
Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day

These artichokes were easier to grow than I thought they'd be. Started seeds and set the seedlings outside every day in early Spring to fool them into thinking they had been through a winter. Planted them (too close, I think) and I got chokes when the plants were only about 2 1/2 feet tall in the beginnning of July. They stay small, but I wonder if that is because they are "yearlings." Hope to keep them through winter. Taste is good, but the heart is mushier than California standard type.
 

Reviewed on 09/23/2004 by Nancy Ross - An experienced gardener

Overall Overall
Taste Taste
Yield Yield
Ease/Reliability Ease

Westchester, New York, United States
Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

Imperial Star is much more reliable in this climate than Green Globe. It must be treated as an annual. Buds do not taste as good as California grown ones. Plants are beautiful if left to flower.
 




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