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 P    

(Best months for growing Jerusalem Artichokes in Australia - sub-tropical 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

18 Jun 13, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hello John... I have some tubers. Email me if you want some. ( We don't publish emails unless included in the 'Comment' Liz)
03 Apr 13, Roy Winter (Australia - tropical climate)
Urgent question, I need to find out where I can get Sunroot or Jeruslem Artchoke tabelts or capsules. I have been advised they will help my wife with her diabetes, with the numbness and pins and needles in her feet and fingers. Can someone please help with this information. Please email me ASAP if anyone can assist in my need for these tablets Thanks Roy
07 Apr 13, Nikki Mackenzie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Roy Jerusalem Artichoke is great for diabetics. It is ALWAYS better to eat the real thing than rely on tablets or capsules. Tablets have no 'life force' and are basically a way for the pharmaceuticals to make money so they can increase their profits and distribute dividends to shareholders. There is no money in real food for big pharma so grow your own plants. They are very easy to grow and are extremely good for you. For numbness and tingles incorporate good quality salt into the diet eg himalayan or celtic sea salt. Salt allows the electrical signals or spark of information travel throughout every cell in the body via the nervous system. The salinity and mineral component of good salts is the same as our blood. AVOID table salt - it is a chemical substitute.
02 Mar 13, Conrad (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi - My artichokes are now between 2 and 3m high and not yet flowering. The neighbour who gave me the seed tubers believes that they should be picked before they flower, not after (he's approaching 90 and been growing them for decades). Any comments welcome. Thanks
26 Apr 13, DARREN (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hello was interested to know if you picked them and what your yield was my first plant gave me 2kgs from 1 littlte tuber not bad I thought.
10 Mar 13, Andrew S (Australia - temperate climate)
The tubers tend to set better after they flower .. maybe do a test by harvesting some now to try..then the others later after the foilage dies off. In a way they will be a bit like new potatoes if harvested now.
11 Feb 13, Julie Rowles (Australia - temperate climate)
I am growing J.Artichokes and they are 2 metres tall and still not flowering .They grow taller than 1.5 metres for sure I usually pickle them and they are delicious. I havent noticed any flatulance,may be the pickling process helps.
18 Feb 13, DARREN (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Julie yes Im in brisbane and a first time grower mine were planted at different times and locations. Ones I planted on the east side started flowering before xmas and are still going strong and now nearly 2 metres high. The later planted ones are also now budding up.What sort of yields do you get and how do you pickle them.
05 May 13, joanne (Australia - temperate climate)
hi yes how do you pickle them and dose anyone have any other way to use them?
05 Feb 13, richard (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
These are high in soluble fibre - which is a good thing for colonic health and health in general. The well known side-effect however is major flatulence - so don't plan any significant social activities for the following 24 hours. Pre-soaking the tubers in lemon juice prior to cooking can neutralise this to some extent.
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