Growing Jerusalem Artichokes, also Sunchoke

Helianthus tuberosus : Asteraceae / the daisy family

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

(Best months for growing Jerusalem Artichokes in USA - Zone 5a 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

03 Oct 23, Anonymous (Canada - zone 4a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Try on the internet - seed selling companies
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
15 Sep 23, DAVID FIELD (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I AM LOOKING FOR JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE TUBERS TO PLANT
08 Sep 23, Betsy Teo (Australia - temperate climate)
Can I buy the jeruselem artichokes in Victoria Market.
14 Sep 23, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Melbourne markets yes
17 Aug 23, Jamie (Australia - temperate climate)
It took a while but I have learned to love Sunchokes. Undoubtedly the easiest and most prolific vegetable of them all. But what to do with them ? Boil them, roast them, grate them into salads, slice them into stir fry. I use them mainly as a filler. They thicken soups and stews and I mash them up with my spuds. Very economical. they don’t have a long shelf life (which is why they are ridiculously expensive) so I tend to leave them in the ground until I use them. If you have a lot of sunchokes - and you will - you can be brutal when you peel them. But keep the peelings out of the compost or you’ll end up with sunchokes everywhere ! Warning : They can be ‘noisy’. Not recommended for date night or before attending the cinema.
26 Jun 23, Neil Baldock (Australia - temperate climate)
Wood Love to buy a few to plant in my garden in Mannum South Australia
01 Jul 23, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
you can plant the ones you buy at a supermarket or markets
29 Jun 23, (Australia - temperate climate)
Buy from an online gardening site.
25 Jun 23, Lynn (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
My Jerusalem Artichokes had very few tubers. Almost nothing. The soil is semi-sea sand in a winter rainfall area. The colour of the soil is like sea sand. What can I add specifically for Artichokes?
Showing 11 - 20 of 296 comments

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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