Growing Artichokes Zone 8 hot & humid

Question from Steve:

Live near the NC/SC border…tropical in Summer hot & humid. Started plants in early Spring..grew nicely, but no buds, then they have sort of stunted, lower leaves died, stopped at about 18″ tall.

Thinking of moving into containers from raised beds so I can move them into afternoon shade.

Any ideas?

Answer from Pat:

Artichokes were originally wild thistles from mild coastal regions of the Mediterranean, areas of no frost, no extreme heat and plentiful moisture in winter. They have been eaten as a vegetable since the time of the Ancient Romans. They are basically a cool-season crop, adapted to the cool coastal fog belt in any Mediterranean climate. In nature artichokes grow during winter and bear in spring. They cannot be grown as a summer vegetable in a hot climate. By summer your harvest should be over and the plants can tough it out through the hot weather and then come to life again in winter. Here in California we can plant from transplants in March, feed and water like mad and get a harvest in June. Cool weather is the key.

You are basically trying to fight nature. I don’t think that works. You could grow artichokes in a cool greenhouse.