Why Does My Artichoke Have Grey Mould on the Leaves?

Grey mould caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea is an extremely common problem on artichoke plants during cool, damp periods. It appears as a fuzzy grey-brown growth on dying or dead leaf tissue, on the cut stubs of removed stems, and occasionally on immature heads during prolonged wet weather. Botrytis is an opportunist — it rarely attacks healthy, actively growing tissue but rapidly colonises dead, dying, or damaged material and then spreads from there into surrounding live tissue.

Where grey mould starts

Botrytis invariably starts on dead or damaged material — a leaf that has died from crown rot, slug damage, frost, or simply natural senescence. The grey fluffy growth on this material produces clouds of spores that spread to adjacent living leaves and stems if conditions are humid. This means the control approach is not primarily about treating the fungus directly, but about removing the dead material it is growing on before it has the opportunity to spread.

Cultural controls

Remove dead and dying leaves from the plant at the base — do not leave dead stems attached; cut them cleanly at the crown. This is particularly important in autumn when natural senescence produces a large amount of dead leaf material. Improve air circulation around and through the plant by removing overcrowded stems in spring. Do not water the foliage from above if avoidable — wet leaves in humid conditions are ideal for Botrytis. Water at the base of the plant.

After cutting back in autumn

When you cut artichoke plants back in autumn, remove all cut material from the site and do not compost it if mould is present. The cut stubs can be a Botrytis entry point — a light application of sulphur dust to the cut surfaces reduces this risk. Apply a dry mulch of straw or wood chip over the crown to keep rain off the stubs during the wet winter months.

Fungicide as a last resort

Where grey mould is actively spreading into live tissue — not just growing on dead material — a copper-based fungicide or sulphur-based spray applied to the affected areas can slow spread. Repeat applications every 10–14 days are needed for control in persistent wet conditions.