Throughout Texas, artichokes are not a commonly produced crop. Texas A&M AgriLife is pushing to change that with new developments in farming techniques.
The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Uvalde has been looking at several aspects of artichoke growth, from irrigation to nitrogen management in the soil, as well as seed quality to enhance germination. Researchers are developing and strengthening these techniques to produce more quality products, which could lead to higher consumer acceptance.
According to center director and professor of vegetable physiology Daniel Leskovar — who is leading these research efforts — making artichokes a more well-known product in Texas will boost the state economy.
“Artichoke is a crop that is not known in Texas and is grown almost exclusively in California,” Leskovar said. “Artichoke is a plant that can thrive in our environment. It’s a plant that can produce different types of products that can bring high economic returns to farmers.”
However, before Texas can reap the benefits of artichokes becoming a top commercial crop, growing techniques need to be thoroughly established.
Horticultural sciences system physiologist Vijay Joshi said without established methods, artichokes could not be made profitable.
“To make it commercialized or marketable, you need to standardize the growing parameters,” Joshi said. “You cannot just jump-start this production based on whatever producers have. If you want to have commercial production, you need to find out the specifics, and you need to standardize these different things one at a time before you can even think about commercial production.”
Media relations specialist Paul Schattenberg said newly developed growing strategies will benefit consumers and farmers alike.
“Development of year-round management strategies focused on producing artichoke heads in the spring and fall in areas of the state will give producers a positive market opportunity to sell their product at the best possible price,” Schattenberg said. “The researchers are hoping Texas retailers and consumers will see the advantage of buying locally produced artichoke heads. This would be of economic benefit to many Texas producers and help create a new product market to further enhance Texas agriculture.