Growing Jerusalem Artichokes, also Sunchoke

Helianthus tuberosus : Asteraceae / the daisy family

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

(Best months for growing Jerusalem Artichokes in USA - Zone 7b 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
  • Jerusalem Artichoke/Sunchoke
  • Artichoke harvest

These are the edible root of a sunflower. Plant the tubers deep enough to cover with soil. They are quite drought-tolerant, but keep well-watered to grow larger tubers. They grow through the summer to 1.5 m tall sunflowers with a smallish flower. Dig up the tubers when the flowers die down in autumn.

Get a couple of tubers from the supermarket or fruit shop. Two years after planting you will probably have enough to give away. Perennial, if you don't manage to harvest all the tubers they will regrow year after year.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Jerusalem Artichokes

Scrape clean or peel (add a tsp of lemon or vinegar to the water to stop the tubers browning). Steam, boil, or use in artichoke soup (make with artichokes and some stock). Caution - because they contain 'resistent starch' Jerusalem Artichokes are a great promoter of flatulence in some individuals.

Your comments and tips

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29 Mar 25, Susanna (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
I dug up my Jerusalem artichokes in March when the snow has melted and the soil is easy to work with, usually above 6 degree C. I leave one root, about 1 inch in diameter, behind for growing in the current year. It grows tall. I always gives about 3 to 4 pounds of chokes. You can harvest it in the fall, but I always wait till next year in March because it taste better. I have been doing this for many years and following my dad's practise who has done it a long time.
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01 Oct 23, Murray (Canada - zone 4a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
I live in the South Cariboo. I have been asking where to get Jerusalem Artichokes, many of my friends are interested in getting Jerusalem Artichokes, but no one seems to know where to get them. Is there easy access to buying them?
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21 Dec 23, Regina (Canada - Zone 5b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Where I ordered mine. https://certifiedseeds.ca/search?type=product&q=jerusalem+artichokes
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06 Oct 23, Jeanna (USA - Zone 9a climate)
I buy mine on Etsy. Here is a link to a page of them. https://www.etsy.com/search?q=jerusalem%20artichokes&ref=search_bar
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03 Oct 23, Anonymous (Canada - zone 4a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Try on the internet - seed selling companies
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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
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24 Jan 22, Cheryl Driscoll (Canada - Zone 5a Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Can you please advise where I can buy Jerusalem Artichoke and have it delivered to N.B. Thank you
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26 Apr 23, Erin (Canada - Zone 5b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
chokedup.ca
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25 Aug 21, Laura (Canada - Zone 3b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
Hi All, Sunchokes or Jerusalem artichokes grow great in Edmonton Alberta. I grow them for the flowers in my flower beds at the back. They are a wonderful perennial veggie and in the colder zones, we are limited on or perennial edible plants.
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26 Feb 25, Roberta (Canada - Zone 3a Temperate Short Summer climate)
Are you able to leave the tubers in the ground over winter? I'm planting some this year for the first time. I've heard conflicting advice on over-wintering the tubers in 3b.
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Showing 1 - 10 of 14 comments
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I've been growing these for some years now and am a huge fan. Absolutely LOVE them. So do my chickens, turkeys, horses, sheep, cattle and dogs. All except dogs will eat tops and tubers. Dogs only eat the tubers. Cats don't much care for any part of them tho. Cooking tips: I like them best roasted. Cut into 1" x 1" (2cm x 2cm) or so, put on a cookie sheet, drizzle with olive or coconut oil, salt, pepper maybe a little basil or rosemary. Roast at 350F (180C) for 25 - 40 min. They come out about the same consistency as roasted garlic - almost like a paste. Use on a nice cracker with a small slice of cream cheese. Side with a glass of a nice, oaky Chardonnay, a good movie and a sexy friend. I'm done. Night, night. Growing tips: don't do anything to them except give them water and some good manure. If you want to get fancy, cut off the flowers and put them in a vase in the kitchen. (Stripping the flowers puts more energy into the tuber production.) Ungrowing tips: If you want to get rid of them, mow them off once a week and don't water. Turn out pigs or chickens. They will dig up every living morsel and consume it. CAUTION! Do NOT use a rototiller on them. It cuts the tubers into microslices and only encourages them to propagate. Enjoy your sunchokes. They are a gift from the gods.

- Deborah Wells

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