Jerusalum artichokes

[Dianne1234567]

Was looking at what I could grow for next year and thought of the above, have never had them before. What do they taste like and are they easy to grow? Can anyone help?

[Jeanied]

I think you will need to buy a handful from the greengrocers to see if you like them Dianne - some people do, some don't. They are cooked and used in a similar way to potatoes - I like them in soup or cooked and covered with a cheese sauce. And they can disagree with you - they are not called fartichokes for nothing! When you have them growing they form a tall screen with flowers like sunflowers - and they tend to come up year after year as it is difficult to dig out all the little tubers.

[grannymem]

We had some today, roasted with onions, carrots, garlic and red pepper with a bit of sage, rosemary, parsley, marjoram and bay leaf. Just at the end I topped the lot with some black forest ham slices and gave them a last 5 minutes in a hot oven. Though I say it myself, they tasted pretty good.

If you send me a SAE, I'll post you a few tubers - YOu'll be set up for life with JAs!

[gojiberry]

I use them mainly as a wind break but in the depth of winter they are always available as an extra veg.

Ian

[Jillyreeves]

Very easy to grow and they make lovely soup :-)

[HayleyB]

I use them mainly as a wind break but in the depth of winter they are always available as an extra veg.

Ian

As a "wind break" eh

[Dianne1234567]

Thanks Jeanied - I think I'll do that anyway, but OH says he has had them before and he likes them, so it would be worthwhile. Its just that I had not tried them, but it sort of sounds like I would and could use them in soup as you suggested, and also Jillyreeves.

Grannymem, I will send you a PM and take you up on that kind offer of some tubers, that would be great.

[nomad]

hey

is it ok to keep and store the tubers as i had mine in a container which keeps flooding so i have dug them up how would i store them for next year
cheers

[grannymem]

hey

is it ok to keep and store the tubers as i had mine in a container which keeps flooding so i have dug them up how would i store them for next year
cheers

I'm no expert but I don't find they store that well - they go a bit soft. I usually blanch them and freeze them - you only need a few to add to a soup to get that lovely JA smoky flavour. I also add them to vegetable flans.

[Snadger]

As a "wind break" eh

Great minds Hayley!

[Flummery]

They don't store at all well - unless you store them in the ground. If you dig them up they are soft within the week. I leave them and dig them as required from December through to February. When I lift the last ones I save a few to replant.

[schw]

I have found that ones which have gone soft seem to recover entirely after a soak in water! They taste fine (I think), and even sprout and grow.

[piskieinboots]

I use them mainly as a wind break...

As a "wind break" eh

Great minds Hayley!

another one that chuckled at that - we are such school kids aren't we

[DeanRIowa]

I am planning on planting some next season.

I am in trouble, I get the winds by just looking at a can of beans.

Dean

[crazywitch]

just started harvesting mine for first time they are lovely roasted and mint sauce goes well with them, just have to put up with the wind lol. i planted the fuseau variety very easy to peel.