Green’s Dictionary of Slang

artichoke (ripe) v.

to smoke (a pipe).

1859		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc. 141: artichoke ripe, smoke a pipe.
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict.
1944		Maurer & Baker ‘“Aus.” Rhyming Argot’ in AS XIX:3 190/2: artichoke ripe A pipe. 2. England, 1855. In Cockney slang, to smoke a pipe.