Peas and JAs

[Dobby]

I was wondering if you could plant peas in with Jerusalem fartichokes
like you can do the 3 sisters ?
has anyone tryed this

[Lesley Jay]

I would have thought that peas would do best on their own. They are susceptible to powdery mildew and maggots from the pea moth. The top growth from the JA's is quite large so I personally would plant them separately.

[Earthbabe]

Same here. They seem quite close together once the stems are flourishing. You might be able to catch crop something very quick before they really get going.

I've not seen any suggestions as regards companion planting in any of my literature, that could be for a number of reasons, size being one of them.

They are often used as a windbreak and can cast a lot of shade so if you try something out you would have to choose carefully and as I said choose something quick maturing.

[Mrs Dobby]

I think Mr D was thinking along the lines of the 3 sisters bed, and trying to cram in an extra crop with the JA's, but I'll relay the answers folks and get him to calm down a bit!

[Earthbabe]

I realised that Mrs D but once they are up to their full glory you will see what we mean. You could try some squash in between or something. There is nothing to stop you both experimenting with other crops but having grown them for two years I wouldn't bother. Also they can put out rather a lot of side shoots (unlike corn) so it would make things difficult for picking etc.

Sorry if we upset him, it definitely wasn't intended.

[Mrs Dobby]

Lol! He wont get upset EB, he's just very very very eager to get started on planting! Every south facing windowsill and the ironing board and underneath the loft windows is covered with propogators or seedlings atm, he must go and look at them at least 3 or 4 times a day! Me, well, I'm more restrained, I only look twice a day! lol!

[bramble]

Mrs D, its like a fever, when it gets into the blood theres not much can be done about it.

[Snadger]

Growing JA's for the first time this year and understand they grow tall and bushy.
They are a member of the sunflower family, I believe!

Rather than peas, how about using their height as support for runner beans?

Thinking about a stout post at each end of row anyway to support the JA's so why not combine scarlet runners or even sweet peas (preferably a flowering type though!)

[Jan]

i never really thought about this before but what I've done in the past (just copied what other family have done) is to bundle up the JA's when they start getting unruly by tying twine around each plant at intrvals. This then makes them more sturdy as a plant and I never need to stake them. Also, because I want them to put more energy into producing tubers I never let them flower, I just chop the top off when they reach a certain height. In this case I think you could grow something up them, I have grown sweet peas so no reason why not climing beans etc? Just depends on how decorative/functional you want them to be I suppose?

[Flummery]

I love JAs (unlike my husband who can't stand them) and only grow a few each year. They are super prolific and you only need to leave the tidgiest bit in the ground and they come up again there next year. I'm resorting to putting them in the same place (presently I appear to have 3 different artichoke beds where they've been in past years) I wonder if there could be any problems with not rotating the crop? Anyone know? I might try growing something up against them, just for the heck of it. A sort of 2 cousins bed?

[JennieAtkinson]

I am really really hoping that my JAs are going to grow as thick and tall as everyone else's south!
Talking of rotatation - where do they fit in a four year cycle?

[Mrs Dobby]

I'm sure I've heard that you can leave them in the same place year after year, sort of like a permanent crop, as they do something to the soil to make it more suited for themselves, but I may be mistaken and it may be a better idea to check it out, think I'll try ggogling it, unless anyone else more experienced has an answer?

[Nicos]

You could plant a few tall sunflowers amongst the JA's- esp multi headed ones to cut and take home -which would be a perfect gift of affection for Mrs D!!!

[Flummery]

I sort of treat them like spuds - being tuberous - but I don't know the 'propper' answer to the rotation.

[Flummery]

Just checked Mrs D. Wikepedia syas the quality degrades unless they are planted in a fresh bed each year. I'll just have to be much more thorough in removing little broken bits!