Artichokes are great to grow and it doesn’t get yellow leaves most of the time. But there are chances that may also get yellow leaves while you are growing and waiting for them to mature. What are some causes that can make the leaves of artichoke yellow?
Artichoke Leaves Turning Yellow
Watering Problems
Overwatering
Overwatering can cause yellow leaves on the artichoke. The artichoke cannot handle too much water and it causes stress. Overwatering can happen when too much water is given to the artichoke or it can happen when heavy rains come.
A watering can or a garden hose can be used to water your artichoke but just give the right amount of water. Check the soil moisture before watering the artichoke if the soil is dry you can water it but if the soil is moist you don’t need to.
There are ways to check the soil moisture like pressing your finger a few centimeters in the soil, pressing a screwdriver, or using a soil moisture meter. Any of those ways can be used to know the soil moisture and gives you an idea of when to water the artichoke.
A well-draining soil is also helpful to avoid waterlogging. Sometimes heavy rainfall comes to your location and you must make good waterways to prevent your artichoke from getting flooded. Too much water can cause root rot which makes leaves yellow but when it’s prevented the leaves are safe.
Lacking Water
Lacking water can also cause yellow leaves on the artichoke. Water is essential for the artichoke to grow well which helps it to grow healthy and able to produce more fruits. Water the artichoke regularly and make a watering schedule so that you know when to water your plant.
The artichoke needs more water when the weather becomes hot. With the right amount of water, it can make the plant cool and hydrated. The artichoke needs at least 1 inch of water per week.
Aging Artichoke Leaves
It is normal to see yellow leaves on any plant or tree. Commonly these yellow leaves are aging leaves. It is normal to see these kinds of leaves even on artichokes because it is part of their growth.
It is a cycle for the artichoke leaves to grow and then get old. The young leaves will grow and after a few weeks or months, they turn yellow, and eventually, artichoke leaves turn brown.
If there are only a few yellow leaves on the artichoke then probably they are just aging leaves but if there are too many yellow leaves you need to analyze and observe if there are other reasons causing the problem.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Nitrogen is an important nutrient needed by the artichoke to keep its leaves growing and staying green. Nitrogen deficiency causes yellow leaves on the artichoke and to prevent it from happening you need to make the soil rich in nitrogen. You can use a soil tester to check the soil and then apply the right amount of nitrogen.
The artichoke needs nitrogen because this nutrient helps the production of chlorophyll in the leaves. Chlorophyll helps the artichoke to convert sunlight into food which makes helps it grow better. Aside from nitrogen, Iron deficiency can also cause leaves to turn yellow on artichokes.
There are many kinds of fertilizer and some of them have nitrogen and iron along with other nutrients which are helpful for the artichoke to grow well if applied.
You Overfertilized Artichoke
You also need to be careful not to overfertilize artichokes. Too much fertilizer can burn roots and when roots get damaged it can cause yellow leaves. When roots are damaged the artichoke cannot get enough water and nutrients because the roots are not functioning well.
Avoid overfertilizing artichokes especially if you are using chemical fertilizers because they can burn artichoke roots.
If you are practicing organic gardening then you can use compost and other organic fertilizers. You can also add mulch to keep soil moisture.
Artichoke Is Lacking Sunlight
The artichoke needs sunlight to grow healthy and be able to produce more food. Grow the artichoke in a place where it can get a lot of sunlight so that the yellowing of leaves can be prevented. The artichoke needs at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
Avoid growing the artichoke near tall trees because it may not get enough sunlight because those tall trees may block the sunlight. When the artichoke is getting consistent sunlight per day it will grow healthy and can give you a lot of fruits.
Weather Changes
Weather changes can also affect the artichoke which may lead to its leaves turning yellow. Even if the artichoke needs more sunlight, extreme heat is not good. Too much sunlight can affect the leaves which can make them yellow. Keep the plants hydrated when the weather becomes hot.
Pests And Diseases
There are pests and diseases that may also cause yellow leaves on your artichoke. You need to monitor your artichoke and see if there are pests and diseases that attack your artichoke. In that way, you can protect them and you can use pesticides or fungicides to get rid of them.