Four small to medium-size artichokes (or six baby artichokes) will fit in a 4-quart slow cooker. For larger artichokes (or more of them), you will need to use a larger cooker.
Slice off the stem end of each artichoke so that they sit upright. Use a serrated knife to cut off about 1 inch from the top of each artichoke and, with scissors, snip off the sharp tips from the leaves. Stand the artichokes upright in the slow cooker.
Pour the water into the bottom of the cooker, and drizzle the lemon juice over the tops of the artichokes. Cov