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 Canada - Zone 5b Temperate Warm Summer 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
  • Jerusalem Artichoke/Sunchoke
  • Artichoke harvest

These are the edible root of a sunflower. Plant the tubers deep enough to cover with soil. They are quite drought-tolerant, but keep well-watered to grow larger tubers. They grow through the summer to 1.5 m tall sunflowers with a smallish flower. Dig up the tubers when the flowers die down in autumn.

Get a couple of tubers from the supermarket or fruit shop. Two years after planting you will probably have enough to give away. Perennial, if you don't manage to harvest all the tubers they will regrow year after year.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Jerusalem Artichokes

Scrape clean or peel (add a tsp of lemon or vinegar to the water to stop the tubers browning). Steam, boil, or use in artichoke soup (make with artichokes and some stock). Caution - because they contain 'resistent starch' Jerusalem Artichokes are a great promoter of flatulence in some individuals.

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Canada | for all countries
24 Aug 17, Lynne (Canada - zone 4a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Can tubers be planted in the fall and harvested the next summer like I do with garlic. We usually have a late spring so it's hard to plant until at least June.
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30 Oct 17, rita near kamllops (Canada - Zone 3b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
No one responded so I will. I do not know for certain. I shop at farmer's market where 2 organic farmers grow and sell these. Both know I grow much of my own food. The guy I normally buy these from never suggested I plant any.. He had ended for the season and I purchased from the other grower. She was telling everyone to plant some of what they buy. HOWEVER she often sales pitches to clear out stock. Also they are zone 4 - 5 -along the river near Kamloops.. I'm at much higher elevation in an unpredictable area. I long ago quit buying zone 4 plants due to cold snaps that hit every few years. I'm going to try a couple roots this fall if I can get them in this week. (end Oct, 1st of Nov -the next snow might stay). If you have access to them I suggest you try a few too. All the local growers who are at warmer elevations than I start their garlic in the fall and say it needs the extra growing time. These may need the settling in time too. Trial and error is the best bet in these climates. I'm on a hillside and after 30+ years still marvel how some plants do well in one area but not 10-15 meters away. I think it's related to underground moisture. Good luck!
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12 Feb 18, Paul Lefebvre (Canada - Zone 6a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Jerusalem Artichokes can definitely planted in the fall. Studies show that fall plantings are, in fact, better for production as it promotes an earlier start for the plant.
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16 Nov 17, Robert Boardman (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
I have grown Jerusalem artichokes - sunchokes - for two years. What got left in the ground last Fall grew in the late Spring. After two days of below zero temperatures this week I harvested more than 20kg of tubers from about 15 plants. From reading articles and from growing them I learned I cannot find all the tubers when I dig in the Fall. They must be harvested in the Fall, no tubers will form until day length is less than night length.
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25 Aug 21, Laura (Canada - Zone 3b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Hi All, Sunchokes or Jerusalem artichokes grow great in Edmonton Alberta. I grow them for the flowers in my flower beds at the back. They are a wonderful perennial veggie and in the colder zones, we are limited on or perennial edible plants.
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24 Jan 22, Cheryl Driscoll (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Can you please advise where I can buy Jerusalem Artichoke and have it delivered to N.B. Thank you
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26 Apr 23, Erin (Canada - Zone 5b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
chokedup.ca
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30 Sep 23, Lynn (Canada - Zone 4b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
I grew this plant from seed and planted them a few years ago. They grew very tall but did not flower yet and there are no tubers at all. Any suggestions on why there are no tubers to harvest after at least 2 years in the ground. Thanks for your help. Lynn
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01 Oct 23, Murray (Canada - zone 4a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
I live in the South Cariboo. I have been asking where to get Jerusalem Artichokes, many of my friends are interested in getting Jerusalem Artichokes, but no one seems to know where to get them. Is there easy access to buying them?
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03 Oct 23, Anonymous (Canada - zone 4a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Try on the internet - seed selling companies
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Showing 1 - 10 of 12 comments
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I lived in zone 5a. Yes you can grow sun chokes. I now live in zone 4 I'm still growing sunchokes And a full garden, you just have to be creative, lol.

- I lived in zone

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