When the ferns turn brown in fall, they should be cut to the ground to allow the plants to go through a period of winter dormancy. In spring, new shoots will appear, starting the cycle again. To apply fertilizer in a band, dig a furrow several inches deep along the side of the planted row, sprinkle the fertilizer evenly along the furrow, cover with soil and irrigate. Although artichokes are a garden rarity in other parts of the country, they are easy to grow in central California gardens. They take a lot of space, however, because one plant grows about 4 feet high and 6 feet wide.
New shoots come up each year from the permanent crown, and the edible buds arrive in spring.
You may get a handful of artichokes from a new plant, or as many as a dozen from an established one. With their silvery foliage and purple flowers, artichokes are good candidates for an edible landscape. Use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer halfway through the growing season and after harvest. The plants need a lot of water. A thick mulch helps.