If you are planning on planting a fall garden, you’ve probably decided to grow the local favorites, which include tomatoes, summer squash and green beans. Maybe you’re going to be a bit of a daredevil and try broccoli or cauliflower. Why not try something even more exotic and plant artichokes?

Calling an artichoke exotic may seem silly to some, but it’s foreign and mystifying to me. For one, eating an artichoke isn’t as self-explanatory as eating a tomato or carrot. Just taking an uncooke...