Asparagus will go to seed and volunteer, so I imagine it's quite easy to grow. The problem being it takes two years to make a root that is strong enough to produce, and then only in very small quantities. It's well into the third or fourth years that it produces sufficient quantities to be worthwhile.

Never even tasted an artichoke, (OK, maybe once, I wasn't impressed) so I'll let someone else handle that one.

Granny

Here is a link that might be useful: Annie's Kitchen Garden

I have both, but haven't grown them. Granny is right on with the asparagus. It takes a long time by seed. Once it's established, it's basically a weed from what my dad says. You have to try to keep it under control or it'll take over your whole yard, but you'll have more asparagus than you can figure out what to do with! Let's plant asparagus and five+ years from now, we can feed the hungry together! :-)

Blessings,
Angela