Preparation of the ground:

It is recommended that a 30-40 cm deep trench be ploughed before breaking up the surface soil. Furthermore the land should be base dressed at least 20 days in advance of planting.

If ground depreciation is observed causing consistently lower production, chemical disinfectant maybe recommended.

This should only be carried out using officially authorised chemical products. However, it is preferable to try other more environmentally friendly and economical alternatives wherever possible. Possible alternatives are an adequate crop rotation, avoiding the repetition of this crop on the same plot during a minimum of 3 years, or solarization of the earth.

In the application of these products it is important to closely follow the instructions and conditions of use, as well as respecting the stated period before planting.

Planting:

The type of reproduction of the plant is vegetative, that is to say from fragments of the mother plant, which in this case are the cuttings. This type of reproduction can cause problems of degeneration in the plant, which can lead to a decrease in production. For this reason the vegetable material used when planting must be carefully selected from the same crops or from areas known to have produced good crops, or from colder areas (Navarra, Rioja).

Planting should be done in July/August and before planting it is recommended that the cuttings be submerged in fungicides and pesticides to avoid problems with the crop later.

It is important at this stage to leave the cuttings submerged in the disinfecting solution for the required time to achieve the desired effect (10 minutes). It is also important to follow the application instructions on the product label. These immersion treatments with fungicide can be complemented with insecticides to eliminate caterpillars that could bore through the artichoke.

After irrigation, planting is carried out using plantation frameworks which vary from 0.8-1.20 x 0.80 and with a density of 12000-18000 plants / hectare.

Irrigation:

Irrigation is carried by traditional methods of furrows or drip lines, meaning a more rational use of water, a better control of the fertilisers and a reduction in manpower. Although a greater initial investment is required, this leads to better performance.

 In the summer when the plants begin to shoot, more regular irrigation is recommended. However, lower volumes of water should be used during the hottest times of day to avoid the possible scolding of plants. During these periods puddles of water on the ground surface should be avoided as this can lead to later crop failure.

Irrigation is recommended during the harvest to avoid withering. Although the temperatures are lower than during the summer months, this is the stage when the plant requires the most water.

Hoeing and weed control:

Chemical hoeing is carried out for weed control using authorised products and manual hoes. Manual hoes are not recommended during the early stages of the crop as they can damage newly rooted plants.

When using the chemicals it is important to take certain precautions:

- If various applications are required on the same plot during the life of the crop, it will be necessary to alternate different active substances. If not, the most resistant flora will be selected and the efficiency of the herbicide will be reduced. Use the dose indicated for each active substance, as excess use can cause damage to the crop.

- The correct active substance should be employed taking into account the stage of the weeds to be combated, the crop and the characteristics of the product. This will help achieve maximum effectiveness.

- Earthing up or ridging with a cultivator is also recommended. However, this should not be done before the plant has 3 or 4 leaves as damage can be caused to the roots and new shoots. This task should be carried our periodically when deemed convenient but will reduce in frequency as the shaded area of the plant later impedes the growth of weeds.

Fertilizer

Fertilizers can de divided into base dressing or surface fertilizers.

Deep root fertilization is carried days before planting the crop and surface fertilization has successive applications during the crops lifetime.

The aim of deep root fertilization is to provide the soil with the less mobile nutrients in the earth such as P205, K20, and ammoniacal nitrogen, which has a slower assimilation in the plant than nitrogen in nitric form.

Therefore for a traditional irrigation system the distribution of these fertilizers could be as follows:

Base dressing:
    - Manure
    - P205 and K20 contribution
    - Ammoniacal nitrogen 

Surface fertilizer:

    - 3 or 4 applications of nitrogen remains
    - When the crop reaches 40 days (ammoniacal nitrogen)
    - At the beginning of harvest (mixed nitrogen)
    - January
    - Mid-March

For a locally watered crop, fertilizers are provided together with irrigation water allowing an increase in the fractioning of the fertilization to once a week or even with each watering.

Pesticide treatments

When carrying out pesticide treatments the following should be taken into account: the moment of application and the substances used depending on the pest or infection to be combated and its life cycle. Even then only in cases of great necessity should pesticides be used. Only authorised active substances should be used and safety periods must be respected, especially when a treatment is carried out during the days prior to harvest time. Product instructions should be carefully read before use.

Website for enquiries regarding authorised substances for the artichoke crop

1.- Click on the following link:

http://www.marm.es/es/agricultura/temas/medios-de-produccion/productos-fitosanitarios/registro/productos/conaplipla.asp

2. Consultation on scope: Crops
2.1 Select: Consult
3. Select Crop/use: Artichoke
3.1 Select: Consult
4. Select the Pest/effect: Optional (Only select for specific pests)
4.1 Select: Consult

Maximum Residual Limits (MRL) for the artichoke:

 http://ec.europa.eu/sanco_pesticides/public/index.cfm?event=commodity.selection

2. - Find Product: Globe Artichokes

3.- Select: Search

The fact that an insecticide has a MRL for artichoke crops does not necessarily mean it is authorised.

Phytoregulator application

Gibberellic acid can be applied to leaves to concentrate production in a shorter time span.

However, the following precautions should be taken:

- It is to be used on plants without nutritional problems and with developed root architecture.

- It should not be used when freezing may occur as this causes a rise in the sensitivity of the plant.

- The optimal period for application is November when the plant is perfectly rooted and established, although substance application is equally effective in Spring to bring forward the harvest. However if it is applied to plants during the first year the concentrated production in Spring will be detrimental to the first harvest the following year.

- It can also be applied with the aim of revitalising crops damaged by freezing if only the leaves and fruit have been affected.

Harvest

The crop production is staged from approximately October until May with a brief break in January.

The harvest is carried out manually with the aid of a sufficiently sharp knife, cutting the capitula one by one when they reach the marketplace size with a stem no bigger than 10cm.

Once collected the artichokes are deposited in hygienic containers and transported as quickly as possible to packaging and conditioning centres.

Cutting back the plants

*  Photographic publication rights given by Paco Rillo