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 USA - Zone 7a 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
  • 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

23 Aug 24, Suzy (USA - Zone 4b climate)
Are Jerusalem Artichokes perinnials? Do I need to dig up and replant in spring? Zone 4a
21 Aug 24, Milton Zelman (USA - Zone 8a climate)
I live in zone 8a. It gets very warm here, until late November. Can I store my Jerusalem Artichoke tubers in the refrigerator until I plant them spring?
17 Aug 24, Jim bryan (USA - Zone 4b climate)
I live in zone 4 .I want to grow sun ray dwarf variety Jerusalem artichokes . Can I buy them now and plant now ?
24 Jan 24, Annie (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Im in zone 9, will my sunchokes come back if no frost?
01 Nov 23, Cindy (USA - Zone 10a climate)
I just harvested the jerusalem artichoke that we planted last spring. The flowers were done but the plant was still alive. I have lots of small tubers and thick root with sprouts. Is all this OK to cook and eat?
16 Oct 23, Tina (USA - Zone 5a climate)
Yikes, I thought I could grow Sunchokes in zone 5 and bought a few. What do I do now? Can I still plant them in sunny spot or eat and wait next year? Are they still good if they got soft? I forgot them in the garage for a week. Thanks!
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.
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.
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!
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.
Showing 1 - 10 of 29 comments

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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