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 P

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

  • P = Plant tubers
  • Easy to grow. Plant tubers about 5cm (1.5") deep.. Best planted at soil temperatures between 8°C and 15°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 30 - 45 cm apart
  • Harvest in 15-20 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Tomatoes, cucumbers

Your comments and tips

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19 Jul 12, adam (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
They will be fine Val. You can't kill them, and they grow fast and multiply. I started with three small corms (2cm across), about 4 years ago. I now have a patch about 3 metres square.
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27 Jul 12, Alan (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Could you please give some advice to planting artichokes in west Aussie I live in the Perth are what is the best time to plant them where I live thanking you
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16 Jan 13, Hans Rudolf Wellinger (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted mine in September in Perth, after having bought some fresh tubers in Bunnings. They are now over 2m tall and doing very well. I am not sure why they grow so well, because I have tried them unsucessful on several occasions before.
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21 Aug 12, Jill (Australia - temperate climate)
I am worried about them becoming unmanageable in time and spreading into neighbouring beds. Can you contain them somehow to a small patch?
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15 Nov 12, Andrew S (Australia - temperate climate)
Can be a pain when they do spread.. had an accident where some escaped into long grass..now I have five new plants. I grow mine in a 1/2 wine barrel. Also plant in some climbing beans to run up the stalks during summer to value add the crop.
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23 Aug 12, James (Australia - temperate climate)
I brought two tubers but the wind blew the bag on the ground, one tuber snapped in half, who thinks they'll still grow?
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29 Aug 12, hz (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I bet they'll grow and in 2 yrs you will be trying to eradicate them lol !
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21 Dec 12, granny peg (Australia - temperate climate)
they will grow. very hard to kill! follow growing tips under the Jerusalem Artichoke information.
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01 Sep 12, Heather (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I promise they will grow. My tips - to harvest them only one plant at a time - or 'bandicoot' a few tubers from the side. Really fresh tubers - I mean today's - don't need peeling, just scrub. When replanting, save the smoothest tubers. I kept them going for four or five generations and managed to get an easy-peel strain going. If you have too many [and who doesn't?] goats love the tops and chickens love the tubers. Eating toast with artichoke soup tends to reduce the anti-social after-effects. Warning! If you leave a whole plant in the ground from year to year, it will still grow but you will end up with amazingly complex unpeelable tubers.
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03 Sep 12, Garry (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Having try'd these in the South Island of NZ,I would like to grow some.I live in NTH NSW...can anyone supply a few tubers ? Regards Garry = [email protected]
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Showing 41 - 50 of 301 comments
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I have found them to be almost embarasingly productive. One small root produces about 1kg of food for us.

- Mukluk

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