What are the best months to buy artichokes?

March through May is the perfect time to steam, stuff, bake, braise and thoroughly enjoy fresh artichokes.

How do you buy good artichokes?

When choosing your artichokes, look for tightly-packed leaves; splayed leaves are a sign your vegetables is less than fresh. A couple of brown spots, however, are fine. Using a knife with a serrated edge, slice off the top half inch for a nice flat surface. Tip: Artichokes are very tough.

Are artichokes sold year round?

Artichokes are a powerhouse of nutrition and fiber — but more importantly, they’re flavorful and fresh, a great addition to a meal — or a light meal on their own. They’re fresh, flavorful and nutritious. Best of all, they’re available almost all year round.

When should you not eat artichokes?

If an artichoke’s leaf tips are split, shriveled and dry looking, or discolored with dark brown edges, the artichoke is past its prime and won’t be good to eat. If the leaf tips are still intact but look discolored, the artichoke may have suffered frost damage, but its quality is still good overall.

What part of artichoke is poisonous?

The only part you can’t eat is the hairy choke inside, and the sharp, fibrous outer portion of the leaves. The choke is not poisonous, nor is the tough part of the leaves, but it is a choking hazard, and quite aptly named.

How can you tell if an artichoke is a good buy?

Squeeze the artichoke leaves. When an artichoke feels heavy and has healthy looking leaves, use the “squeak” test to confirm that you’ve picked a good one. Hold the artichoke next to your ear, and squeeze its leaves with your fingers. If you hear a squeak, the artichoke is extremely fresh so it’s a good one to buy.

When is the best time to harvest artichokes?

Most of the commercial artichoke crop in the U.S. is grown in California where the main artichoke harvest happens every spring (March through June). A second, smaller crop grows for a fall harvest.

What’s the best way to store fresh artichokes?

If preparing the artichokes on the same day you buy them, or immediately afterwards, store them in the fridge without washing them. It is advisable to keep the fresh artichokes in an airtight bag or a bag tied with a knot, and place it in the coldest part of the refrigerator. 3

How often should you fertilize an artichoke plant?

Use a balanced fertilizer on artichoke on a regular basis every 2 or 3 weeks, since growing artichokes are hungry feeders. When transplanting or planting, heap compost manure around the plant and use an organic fertilizer. Pruning is more important for perennially grown artichokes than for plants growing in colder climates.