Want to grow artichokes or fennel? Sweetcorn or asparagus? Here's how

Artichokes

(shown above)

Cynara scolymus
Climate: Most suited to Mediterranean and temperate climates, but the plant can also be successful in humid subtropical and cool temperate climates. It accepts -5C but doesn't do well where summers are very hot. Good near the coast where sea breezes moderate temperatures.

Planting: Usually raised from shoots or suckers rather than seed. In frost-free areas, these are planted in winter, elsewhere in spring after frosts have passed. Plant into soil enriched with rotted manure and a ration of complete plant food.

Growing: Always keep evenly moist and mulch around plants with compost, straw or rotted manure. Young plants are susceptible to drying out. Aphids attack the developing flower buds and spread plant diseases, so control them at first sight. In humid areas, fungus diseases distort leaves, which should be removed.

To harvest, cut the flower buds before they begin to open.

Asparagus
Asparagus officinalis

When growing asparagus, use male plants only.

Climate: Cool to cold winter and warm, not very rainy summer. Asparagus grows well in Mediterranean, temperate, cool temperate and semi-arid climates. You can grow it in cooler humid, subtropical areas and in highland tropical areas.

Planting: Dig a wide trench 35-45cm deep. Backfill to 25cm with a mix of soil and rotted manure or compost. In winter or early spring, buy two-year-old crowns, as growing asparagus from seed is slow and tedious. If available, buy male plants only. Plant in the trench, 45cm apart, spreading the roots out all around. Cover with 5cm of soil/organic matter. As shoots appear, cover with more of this mix until the trench is overfull.

Growing: Keep soil moist and sprinkle complete plant food over the bed once during late spring. Don't cut any spears in the first year, and when growth begins to yellow off in autumn, cut plants to the ground and mulch the bed with rotted manure. Repeat this process every year.

Rust disease can be avoided if rust-resistant varieties are grown. Otherwise, the plant is largely trouble-free.

To harvest, take a small bunch in the second season after planting and begin harvesting in earnest in the third. Harvesting begins as soon as the spears appear and can continue until early summer. After that the plants must be left alone to grow leaves or next year's crop will be poor.

Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare

Give fennel one ration of complete plant food during the growing season.

Climate: Suitable for all climates but not ideal for tropical areas.

Planting: Sow seed in autumn in warm areas, and in spring in colder places. Soil must drain freely and be reasonably fertile and deeply dug over.

Growing: Water deeply once a week (twice a week in hot weather). Apply a ration of complete plant food once during the growing season. Keep the base of the plant covered with soil so that it remains white.

Harvest by lifting the whole plant when the base is swollen (three to four months after planting).

Sweetcorn
Zea mays var. saccharata

Grow sweetcorn in three rows of three.

Climate: Can be grown in all areas, except the colder parts of cool temperate areas.

Planting: Sow seeds about 5cm deep and 30cm apart in well-drained, fertile soil. Sow in a block - three rows of three is good. In tropical and dry subtropical areas, sow from autumn to early spring. In other zones, sow from mid-spring to early summer.

Growing: Keep moist and give a ration of complete plant food when plants are half grown. Remove weeds as they appear but don't dig around the roots. Caterpillars attack the cobs and aphids suck sap and spread diseases. Control both pests with the one insecticide. Cobs may need netting against bird attacks.

To harvest, pull corn when the silks have browned and the cobs stand at an angle. White, not clear, sap will ooze from a pierced kernel when it is ripe.

Source: Gardening: A Commonsense Guide (Murdoch Books)