Jerusalem Artichokes

[Vince G]

This year my Jerusalem artichokes failed after having a good dig around today I ended up with ½lb from a total of 6 plants, and here's me thinking I'd have lots of meals from them because they did produce a fair few flowers.

Roasts aren't the same in Dec / Jan without a couple of JAs on the side - gutted for you Bren. Off to your local greengrocer with you, for a few tubers in Feb and better luck next year.

[arpoet]

Mine failed too, but a few are just about big enough to save for next spring planting.

[Bren In Pots]

Here was me thinking that once you had JA's you couldn't get rid of them. so when its a bit dryer I'll have another dig over the area and go a bit deeper this time.

[Bohobumble]

From the descriptions here it looks like I shoved 2 rows of Fuseau in last year (freecycle find) so about 12 plants - far too close together, then promptly neglected them. I didn't expect to harvest them so soon as I thought they'd need to get 'established' and I also mis-remembered they were globe artichokes until reading my notes.

Anyways, I am thinking of moving them shortly to a more ornamental area of my allotment nearby to fit a different crop in that bed so I figured I'd dig up 2 or 3 plants worth and see what's what.

I turns out that 3 plants produced about 850g (3-4 times the qty planted) therefore I am going to have my first ever taste of jerusalem artichoke tonight!

A friend suggests artichoke soup tastes sublime so I reckon I'll be making that, or at least 'as close as damn it with what I have in the house so I don't have to go to the shop artichoke soup'!

[Guest]

Anyways, I am thinking of moving them shortly to a more ornamental area of my allotment nearby to fit a different crop in that bed so I figured I'd dig up 2 or 3 plants worth and see what's what.

Moving might be the wrong word
Just a word of warning, by all means start a new area with them but they will keep growing where they are at the moment no matter how much you think have got them all up

[Bohobumble]

Moving might be the wrong word
Just a word of warning, by all means start a new area with them but they will keep growing where they are at the moment no matter how much you think have got them all up

So I understand! There were some small tubers not worth peeling that I tossed back into the holes for now deliberately, and if they do come up then they'll be battling squashes /sweetcorn/beans.

The theory is that if they pop up in a few months, then the growing stalk will show me where the tubers are, so I can lift and reposition... we shall see!

They are to be a pretty windbreak in the new area which will have more of a cottage garden feel (a flower area with cropping potential) to sit and enjoy the view after a hard days work or a cuppa with the other allotment holders. The plot is otherwise quite exposed to the wind.

[Bren In Pots]

Since my last JA post 2 years ago they've been coming back ever since, I moved them to a new area and they've done really well.

Bohobumble one of my favourite ways to eat them is in a gratin with parsnips.

[Dorothy rouse]

Think I'd better have a look at mine, I thought once you had them you could never get rid of them!

[alldigging]

They are to be a pretty windbreak

I think they're more break wind than wind break..
They are quite good at falling over.