Growing Jerusalem Artichokes, also Sunchoke

Helianthus tuberosus : Asteraceae / the daisy family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
      P                

(Best months for growing Jerusalem Artichokes in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Plant tubers
  • Easy to grow. Plant tubers about 5cm (1.5") deep.. Best planted at soil temperatures between 46°F and 59°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 12 - 18 inches apart
  • Harvest in 15-20 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Tomatoes, cucumbers

Your comments and tips

30 Sep 23, Lynn (Canada - Zone 4b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
I grew this plant from seed and planted them a few years ago. They grew very tall but did not flower yet and there are no tubers at all. Any suggestions on why there are no tubers to harvest after at least 2 years in the ground. Thanks for your help. Lynn
15 Sep 23, DAVID FIELD (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I AM LOOKING FOR JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE TUBERS TO PLANT
08 Sep 23, Betsy Teo (Australia - temperate climate)
Can I buy the jeruselem artichokes in Victoria Market.
14 Sep 23, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Melbourne markets yes
17 Aug 23, Jamie (Australia - temperate climate)
It took a while but I have learned to love Sunchokes. Undoubtedly the easiest and most prolific vegetable of them all. But what to do with them ? Boil them, roast them, grate them into salads, slice them into stir fry. I use them mainly as a filler. They thicken soups and stews and I mash them up with my spuds. Very economical. they don’t have a long shelf life (which is why they are ridiculously expensive) so I tend to leave them in the ground until I use them. If you have a lot of sunchokes - and you will - you can be brutal when you peel them. But keep the peelings out of the compost or you’ll end up with sunchokes everywhere ! Warning : They can be ‘noisy’. Not recommended for date night or before attending the cinema.
26 Jun 23, Neil Baldock (Australia - temperate climate)
Wood Love to buy a few to plant in my garden in Mannum South Australia
01 Jul 23, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
you can plant the ones you buy at a supermarket or markets
29 Jun 23, (Australia - temperate climate)
Buy from an online gardening site.
25 Jun 23, Lynn (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
My Jerusalem Artichokes had very few tubers. Almost nothing. The soil is semi-sea sand in a winter rainfall area. The colour of the soil is like sea sand. What can I add specifically for Artichokes?
29 Jun 23, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Buy in some good soil and add compost manures etc.
Showing 11 - 20 of 295 comments

Thanks Mike, yes I know to eat the tubers [luv them, my Father always had them in the vege garden-many years ago] think from your answer I may have watered too much. Was hoping as they had grown so tall that the tubers would be more, but...... I have read somewhere since posting my query, that if one stops them flowering a bigger crop is produced?

- Lyn

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