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

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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?
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29 Jun 23, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Buy in some good soil and add compost manures etc.
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26 May 23, I lived in zone (USA - Zone 4a climate)
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.
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26 Apr 23, Denise (USA - Zone 5a climate)
An old timer told me if you wait until after the first frost to harvest the tubers they cause much less flatulence. He said before the first frost they call them fartichokes. : ) Planting for the first time this year and will definitely apply this advice.
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01 Apr 23, George Antoon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi everyone Sunchoke is planted in April (Sydney) harvested in April. I’m pleased to give you some to plant but in April 2024.
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28 Jun 23, Neil Baldock (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi thank you so much did grow some in Melbourne but now live in Mannum South Australia on the River Murray
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08 Nov 22, Carol (USA - Zone 9a climate)
I bought 5 tubers from Amazon, they're huge, about 4" wide! Can I cut them to make more plantings? Also, it says to plant in February, how do I store then until then? Don't want them to rot!
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18 Nov 22, Ruth A Hersh (USA - Zone 9a climate)
Store them in a pot of dry dirt. Cut them a cpl days before planting to allow the cut to scab over. best if you can dip wet cut in wood ash so that insects dont find it attractive.
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19 Oct 22, Jim (USA - Zone 8b climate)
I live on the Alabama Gulf Coast, and just bought 4lb Jerusalem Artichokes for planting. Can I plant now (October) or if I need to wait until Spring, how should I store them? Should I mulch if I plant now? Thank You
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25 Oct 22, Anonymous (USA - Zone 8b climate)
It says plant Nov.
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Showing 21 - 30 of 297 comments
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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.

- Jamie

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