Jerusalem

[Dipity]

Hello
Desperate for some advice. New to allotment growing and this looked like the 'friendliest' online forum to join compared to others I have looked at . Have five Fausteau Jerusalem Artichoke tubers. Love the vegetable so very keen to grow them. I have a 15m x 5m plot which is surrounded by other plots. As such, I am very keen to avoid offending anyone as I know they cast such a shadow.

Any ideas as to where best to plant them and what else I could plant in the same bed gratefully appreciated?

Thanking you in advance x

[zazen999]

If you only have 5 - they aren't going to cast much of a shadow during peak season. I'd pop them in a corner somewhere, where you aren't going to be wanting to grow much else [ever]. They usually grow back each year from the tubers that are left in the ground so once they are in, they are in!

Usually they are grown on boundaries or near to compost bins out of the way.

And Welcome to the Vine

[Jeanied]

My permanent jerusalem bed it by my compost bins, as Zazen says. If you plant on the north side it shouldn't cast shade.

[Two_Sheds]

They don't make a very thick fedge, the flowering stems are like thin sunflowers. I had mine on my boundaries too, south, east and north ends.

[northepaul]

Mine were quite spindley so didnt really cast any shadows. I put them next to the shed and when I harvested them, left one in each place for next year.

Welcome to the vine by the way

[gojiberry]

I agree with other grapes, try to plant to the north of your plot. They won't create much of a shade in the first year, but can depending on how deep a bed you finally create. A 2ft wide bed full of artichokes will create a lot of shade.

Ian

[Dipity]

Wonderful. Thanks for your help. I had hoped to get them in today but weather dreadful

[snohare]

Next to the compost heap - they like to be well fed and watered and when you empty the heap you will always have some food to take home !
I never plant mine before March usually, the important thing (for my latitude anyway) seems to be how rich the soil is, not how long they have. They will bulk up over winter even after the stalks are cut back - I suppose the roots are still taking in energy.

[ginger ninger]

You could see mine from outer space they grew that tall...about 9 foot. I've yet to dig them up so they don't do it again . But if you plant them as you've been advised you should be OK.

[TonyF]

Anybody want any, I have load of the nice potato like smooth ones to get rid of?

[Amanda1]

Oh, yes please!!!

[Jardiniere]

i have so so so many that i now beg the wild boar to come and eat them.......i grew them round a tree and along a border and beside a fence etc etc ......very pretty in bloom.
will never need to buy another j.a ever ever ever

[Florence Fennel]

I made too good a job of digging mine up. I was convinced I had left tubers in the ground, but nothing came up!

[snohare]

I made too good a job of digging mine up. I was convinced I had left tubers in the ground, but nothing came up!

I've done that before now, and they came up the next year - it just took them a while to struggle up from being so deep.
(But if they don't come back, try hiring yourself out as a professional JA digger - allotment holders will queue up to pay you good money ! )