Can you imagine waking up one morning and the sun has decided to choke? Zero sun, just total darkness? LOL. Do you remember the posts on how to grow jicama or how to grow rutabagas? Those were tubers too, which are usually easy to grow. Today let us look at how to grow sunchokes, shall we?
Helianthus tuberosus, also commonly known as the Jerusalem artichoke have their origins right here in North America. I found it interesting that although it is a tuber, the plant is actually a member of the sunflower family. They can be grown in large containers and also pair well with either corn, rhubarb or peanuts. Since they can easily takeover the garden, it is recommended that you put barriers in place as a way of containing their growth.
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Here’s What You’ll Need:
- sunchoke tubers
- compost
- sand
- container (optional)
- mulch
- spade
The perfect location for sunchokes in your garden is one which gets full sun and also has loose well drained soil. If the soil is not loose, you can add some sand to it, this in turn makes the harvest easier. No extra fertilizer will be required as long as you work in some compost into the soil.
You can plant them 21 days before the last frost date, just make sure the soil is at least 50 degrees F. When planting place the tubers between 2 to 6 inches deep, with in row spacing of at least a foot. The rows should be at least 3 feet apart.
Follow a regular watering schedule and cover with mulch especially if planted during the winter. Keep an eye out for aphids, which may want to attack the leaves. They should be ready for harvest after 120 to 150 days. Use a spade to dig your tubers out of the ground when harvesting. They can be stored in your root cellar for up to 5 months.
You can get more information on the Harvest To Table blog, here…
You can watch the video below on How to Grow Sunchokes (Jerusalem Artichokes) from Tubers…
You can watch the video below on How To Grow Sunchokes or Jerusalem Artichokes In Containers or …
You can watch the video below on Grow Sunchokes in Pots…
