Jerusalem Artichokes

Hi Everyone,
I've got a corner which I'd like to fill with Jerusalem artichokes. Question - can I buy those for eating and grow them? If so, do I just plant them or do I encourage them to put root on first (like I do with garlic). Also, if I can plant the eating ones when I select should I be going for small or large tubers?
Thanks
Jen

 

Jerusalem artichoke crop 2015



A member of our community garden planted these last year. The picture shows the remainder of my share (eaten some already).

Jerusalem artichokes are very vigorous plants and as long as there is atleast one healthy eyelet on the tuber, it will grow and spread. Size does not matter much.

Therefore, dividing a tuber with many eyelets so that each segment has two or three eyelets will increase the number of plants.

The ones you buy for eating can be used for planting a new crop. They will grow tall and resemble sunflowers, except without the flower head.

Digging the tubers up whole (ie unbroken) can be problematic if the soil is too compacted or heavy. Therefore, I would suggest adding sharp sand and/or organic matter to the soil to improve its texture.

Alternatively, raise the level of the soil by forming a flat-top mound and plant the tubers in the mound just above ground level. In the far east, this is how commercial growers grow medicinal plants that form tubers and rhizomes.

 

Thank you that is SO helpful. Once the weather improves we're going to clear the area ready for planting I'll let you know how it goes. We bought some today but those are for eating at 1.99 kilo much cheaper than the 19.99 ones at the garden centre!

 

I've had (fairly small) blooms on mine, even picked a bunch to put in a vase.

P.S. I tried to jog Mrs Scrungee's memory on the subject of JA flowers, but she only responded with "Don't they stink", so I had to remind her it wasn't the flowers that stank (I wasn't the one JAs disagreed with).

 

Thanks @Scrungee, flowers would be a real bonus. I'd be over the moon if they grow and put on a show of flowers. All I need now is a few fair days then I can get stuck in!

 

I've been told that many root crops in grocery stores are sprayed with sprout retardants. Would your grocer know?


Using Tapatalk.

 

I had a good pick through them yesterday at the supermarket and some had little roots showing. I'm in France not sure if spraying with root retardant is even allowed especially if the crops are carrying a bio label.

 

If you PM me with your name and address, Jenny, I'll send you as many as you like.
Mine are a fairly smooth, pink-skinned variety. I've not got round to harvesting them for a couple of years

 

@noisette that's very kind - now I need help working out how to send a PM!

 

If you click on 'Inbox' on the top bar, then 'start new conversation', that should do the trick

 

@noisette47 very kindly dug up and sent me a beautiful box of jerusalem artichokes. What fabulous people gardeners are .



Now I need to get a move on and make them a home. This grim corner is to be their new site - what a mess but as soon as weather permits I'll get it whipped into shape.

 

They look lovely, plump, healthy ones!

If you want to enjoy the flowers (and they are pretty), consider putting something in to stake up the top growth; they can grow very tall

 

Thanks @"M" I'm hoping the wall and fence will support them on one side. Had to come in from the digging as it's soooo cold. I need slaves!

 

Don't we all?