When to plant artichoke
The rule
Method: Start seeds indoors, then transplant. Frost tolerance: frost-tender (derived from the planting timing above).
Artichoke is frost-tender; it's grown as a spring/summer crop.
Artichoke planting dates by hardiness zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant / sow | Sow for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2a | February 22 – March 22 | May 10 – May 24 | — |
| Zone 2b | March 2 – March 30 | May 18 – June 1 | — |
| Zone 3b | February 25 – March 25 | May 13 – May 27 | — |
| Zone 4a | February 19 – March 19 | May 7 – May 21 | — |
| Zone 4b | February 15 – March 15 | May 3 – May 17 | — |
| Zone 5a | February 17 – March 17 | May 5 – May 19 | — |
| Zone 5b | February 9 – March 9 | April 27 – May 11 | — |
| Zone 6a | February 5 – March 5 | April 23 – May 7 | — |
| Zone 6b | January 29 – February 26 | April 16 – April 30 | — |
| Zone 7a | January 21 – February 18 | April 8 – April 22 | — |
| Zone 7b | January 12 – February 9 | March 30 – April 13 | — |
| Zone 8a | January 1 – January 29 | March 19 – April 2 | — |
| Zone 8b | December 22 – January 19 | March 9 – March 23 | — |
| Zone 9a | December 8 – January 5 | February 23 – March 9 | — |
| Zone 9b | November 10 – December 8 | January 26 – February 9 | — |
| Zone 10a | October 23 – November 20 | January 8 – January 22 | — |
| Zone 10b | October 28 – November 25 | January 13 – January 27 | — |
What you'll need
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Seed-starting traysBurpee SuperSeed 36-cell trayReusable cells that pop seedlings out with the roots intact at transplant time.See it on Amazon- Seed-starting mixEspoma Organic Seed StarterA fine, sterile mix so small seeds can push through and seedlings don't rot.See it on Amazon
- Grow lightBarrina T5 LED grow lights, 4-packA windowsill is too dim in late winter; a light 2–3 in. above keeps seedlings short and sturdy.See it on Amazon
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Calendar computed 2026-09-27. Sources: Johnny's Selected Seeds — Seed-Starting Date Calculator chart; NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals (frost); USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map.