Jerusalem Artichokes

[Dorothy rouse]

Someone gave me just 2 tubers last autumn, and they have down very well (I think), now about 10 ft and have just flowered. They aren't staked, and have survived the winds etc. I know nothing about them at all, not even sure I like them, but when to harvest ? Any advice, ( no jokes please! ) I'm aware of their reputation !


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[Bren In Pots]

Dorothy I've grown them for the last few years sometimes I get a better harvest than other times, in one of my Alys Fowler books she recommends you add Winter savoury when cooking its supposed to help combat their windy effects.

According to RHS you harvest them from late autumn onwards :-

Jerusalem artichoke / RHS Gardening

[mothhawk]

Wait until the leaves have yellowed and died back - at least the end of October - so that all their goodness drains back into the tubers. When they have died back, you can cut down the stems, but leave six inches or so, then you can still find them.

Leave the tubers in the soil until you want to eat them, and just dig up enough for each meal as you need it,because they store better left in the ground. If you need to dig up the lot, perhaps the best way of storing would be like carrots, in damp sand, but I've never tried it.

[mothhawk]

Dorothy I've grown them for the last few years sometimes I get a better harvest than other times, in one of my Alys Fowler books she recommends you add Winter savoury when cooking its supposed to help combat their windy effects.

According to RHS you harvest them from late autumn onwards :-

Jerusalem artichoke / RHS Gardening

Ooh, thanks for that tip Bren - I often put fennel seeds in, but it does change the flavour a bit.

[Jardiniere]

i do what mothhawk says ...but dont forget that they will spread so only leave a few behind.

[Olorin2001]

In my experience they don't store, they go soft in a day, better to leave them in the ground and dig them up as needed. They can become a problem as they spread so easily and even the tiniest tuber left in the ground sprouts the following year.

[arpoet]

I dig mine up about xmas when the grounds not too frozen and store them in a bucket of old potting compost until needed.
I scrub and slice them into wheels and have them deep fried with steak.

[stubedo]

what month did you plant them? i ordered some off the net & planted last autumn, saw no evidence of them growing though . I did grow them another time in a much lighter spot though

[arpoet]

Best time for planting is spring, but I find they will grow anywhere any time. mine at about 10 foot high.

[Dorothy rouse]

Best time for planting is spring, but I find they will grow anywhere any time. mine at about 10 foot high.

Yes mine are also about that tall, and have just flowered,think they went in last winter, can't really remember, someone gave them to me, and I didn't think they'd grow!


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[alldigging]

I bought mine from morrisons - they're huge and one has a flower bud on.

[Dorothy rouse]

I've dug up all the Jerusalem artichokes today, didn't intend to, but was wanting to get the bed sorted, anyway, is it an idea to save and replant a couple of the tubers for next year? Do you have to dry them or anything before replanting?

[Bren In Pots]

Dorothy I just plant a couple back in the ground and leave them to it.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Dorothy I just plant a couple back in the ground and leave them to it.

You don't even have to do that if you're a bit of a slack Alice like me and haven't done a proper job in getting every single tuber out the ground. I can't get rid of the darn things - they come back every year to haunt me!

[Dorothy rouse]

Oh thank you Bren, I've been trying to delete that post, as realise, it's been commented on previously, but can't seem to delete it on iPad.

I think I have got them all out as only had 2 tubers in the first place, got far more than I thought I would, soup making tomorrow