Jerusalem artichoke
How to sow Jerusalem artichokes successfully outdoors?
To sow Jerusalem artichokes outdoors, we recommend doing so in spring, once the risk of frost has passed. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Before sowing, carefully weed the area and loosen the soil by spading. There's no need to add fertiliser as Jerusalem artichokes thrive in poor soil.
Once the soil has been prepared, plant the Jerusalem artichoke tubers about 10-15 cm deep and 30-40 cm apart. Cover the tubers with soil and water moderately. Jerusalem artichokes are fairly hardy and need no special care during their growth.
Be sure, however, to keep an eye on weeds and remove them regularly so as not to compete with the Jerusalem artichokes for nutrients. Once the plants are well developed, they can reach a height of 2 to 3 metres. You can harvest the tubers in autumn, once the leaves have started to yellow and fade.
How should Jerusalem artichokes be harvested?
Jerusalem artichokes are harvested in autumn, usually from October onwards. To harvest them, simply split the earth with a spading fork and carefully dig them up. Be careful not to damage the tubers when removing them from the soil. Once harvested, they should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from light. Jerusalem artichokes keep for quite a long time, up to several months, making them an ideal winter vegetable. It's best to store them in crates or paper bags to allow better ventilation and prevent rotting.
Jerusalem artichoke
- Type : Perennial vegetables
- Subtype : Tuber vegetables
- Botanical Family : Asteraceae (composites)
Characteristics
- Lifecycle : Perennial
- Exposure : Full Sun
- Frost Hardiness : Frost Resistant
- Cultivation Difficulty : Challenging
- Adult Height : 200 cm
Sowing & Planting
- Greenhouse Growing : Not Required
- Sowing Depth : 10 cm
- Plant Spacing : 40 cm
- Row Spacing : 60 cm
Maintenance
- Maintenance : Moderate
- Water Requirements : Moderate
Seeds
- Soil Type : Humus-rich
- Soil pH Preference : Neutral
- Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
- Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
- Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
- Pollination : Insect-pollinated
- Propagation : Division