Growing Jerusalem Artichokes, also Sunchoke

Helianthus tuberosus : Asteraceae / the daisy family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                    P P

(Best months for growing Jerusalem Artichokes in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Plant tubers
  • Easy to grow. Plant tubers about 5cm (1.5") deep.. Best planted at soil temperatures between 46°F and 59°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 12 - 18 inches apart
  • Harvest in 15-20 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Tomatoes, cucumbers

Your comments and tips

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10 Aug 13, Helen (Australia - temperate climate)
Was wondering where I would be able to find the artichoke tubers in the Toowoomba area of Queensland?We are about 35 kms NW of Toowoomba and I do know they grow well in our black soil. I love them and have heard they are great for diabetes which I have.
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20 Aug 13, Danielle Jones (Australia - temperate climate)
Have you tried looking for them at your local Woolworths/Coles? That's where I found the tubers I grew last year. Good luck!
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14 Aug 13, Sherrie Cordie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Helen - Happy to sell you some tubers, how many would you like? They should grow really well in the Toowoomba area (I lived there for years myself) as the soil and climate is very similar to where I live here in Victoria. If you're interested please e-mail me. (N.B. from Gardenate team. We do not publish email addresses unless they are part of the comment - Liz)
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04 Aug 13, Mark (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Where can I buy Jerusalem artichokes in Johannesburg?
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10 Jul 13, Nicole Masters (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Does anyone know where i can source bulk tubers from? thanks Nicole
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31 Aug 13, Selina (New Zealand - temperate climate)
It depends what you mean by bulk. I have just bought a kilo on Trade Me from a lady in Napier.
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10 Jun 13, Peter hallam (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I live in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. I have just purchased a kilo of JA at our local Supermarket. If I plant each tuba now (June 2013) without any shoots on them, when could I expect a crop for eating? Is the supermarket the best place to buy JA for propagating?
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13 Jun 13, (Australia - temperate climate)
JA's are the toughest of tough tubers. Wait until winter is finished and plant SIX of your tubers. They will grow through spring and summer, flower in late summer (with a wimpy type sunflower (will look wimpy compared to the sunflower you get seeds from). Where I am, in May the flowers finish, the stems die, and the earth heaves up, and one sunny Sunday arvo you dig up about five fold the tubers you planted. PLUS, you don't get them all......... without doing anything at all, for the next 15 years, you have JA's........ Good Luck...... PS Mine came from a supermarket, and I started with a dozen in 2 square meters, I have finally got them down to ONE SQUARE METRE and that's enough for us !! In Coff's you will way surpass me "hands off" endeavours of 15 years................. enjoy !
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06 May 13, Margaret (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Jerusalem artichokes can be baked, steamed or boiled and are nice served with a melted butter sauce. If you don't dig them up until the stems have died , you will have less problems with flatulence
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06 May 13, Di (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have one plant that is dying off, one just finished flowering - both from last year's crop. I'll be digging tomorrow, yippee. I have always had them roasted or boiled. Love them but yes, flatulence is a problem.
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I've been growing these for some years now and am a huge fan. Absolutely LOVE them. So do my chickens, turkeys, horses, sheep, cattle and dogs. All except dogs will eat tops and tubers. Dogs only eat the tubers. Cats don't much care for any part of them tho. Cooking tips: I like them best roasted. Cut into 1" x 1" (2cm x 2cm) or so, put on a cookie sheet, drizzle with olive or coconut oil, salt, pepper maybe a little basil or rosemary. Roast at 350F (180C) for 25 - 40 min. They come out about the same consistency as roasted garlic - almost like a paste. Use on a nice cracker with a small slice of cream cheese. Side with a glass of a nice, oaky Chardonnay, a good movie and a sexy friend. I'm done. Night, night. Growing tips: don't do anything to them except give them water and some good manure. If you want to get fancy, cut off the flowers and put them in a vase in the kitchen. (Stripping the flowers puts more energy into the tuber production.) Ungrowing tips: If you want to get rid of them, mow them off once a week and don't water. Turn out pigs or chickens. They will dig up every living morsel and consume it. CAUTION! Do NOT use a rototiller on them. It cuts the tubers into microslices and only encourages them to propagate. Enjoy your sunchokes. They are a gift from the gods.

- Deborah Wells

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