Sunchokes, more commonly known as “Jerusalem artichokes”, are perennial, native North American plants. They are members of the sunflower family and have no connection to Jerusalem nor to the artichoke family of plants.
Sunchokes have a nutty taste, somewhat like water chestnuts and can be used similar to a potato or a squash. They can also be eaten raw in salads. They are an underground tuber producing stalks in the summer which can tower nearly six to ten feet tall. A small but yet bright yellow flower will bloom from mid to late summer which attracts many pollinators.
Once in bloom, my sunchoke patch is a favorite place for the honey bees, yellow bumblebees and other native pollinators. It is not uncommon to see flocks of yellow finches, and other smaller birds, feasting on the tiny seeds produced by the flower.
The plant is generally not bothered by plant diseases, insects or wildlife, although an occasional deer might eat some foliage. In some rural areas, sunchokes are planted and used as pig feed. The pigs enjoy digging and consuming the tubers and will clear out a patch rather quickly. Some farms also use the leaves, stems and flowers as food for sheep, goats and cattle. The leaves and stems have more protein than corn.
Sunchokes can be easily grown in the vegetable garden with some caution. Once a sunchoke plot is established, it is there to stay. Even a small piece of a root left behind, will promptly grow the following season. It is best to have a dedicated and easily controlled patch of ground. Although some new shoots will appear outside of the bed, they are incorrectly said to be invasive. The truth of the matter is they are not, but once planted it is very difficult to remove them. If they do escape their dedicated plot of ground, a couple of mowings should solve the problem.
Sunchokes are not fussy, high maintenance plants. It seems all they need is dirt, although for bumper crops, compost should be applied during the early spring. Since they are a member of the sunflower family, they do best in full sunlight.
While they enjoy water, they are also drought tolerant. Sunchokes do best in a pH neutral soil. The tubers, which have a knobby potato appearance, are planted like potatoes, except there is no need to “hill” them during the season. They can be planted in the fall or in the spring.
While they can be harvested after the first growing season, larger tubers can be harvested following the second growing season. Fr some growers, the best time to harvest the tubers is after a hard frost or after several frosts. It is claimed the tubers, like many roots crops, are sweeter after a deep freeze.
The tubers do not store well and after several days in the refrigerator will become soft. It is best to only dig the tubers as needed.
One option besides planting in the garden, is to locate the tubers along a fence line, wood or field line. The tall plants make for a natural, permanent sunchoke hedge year after year during the growing season.
Sunchokes are an old crop once cultivated by the original peoples of North America. Discovered during the colonial era in North America, the tuners were shipped back to Europe where, through a series of events, they eventually became known as Jerusalem artichokes.
They are noted for their many health benefits particularly for those on a low starch diet. They are flavorful and can be used raw, cooked or in soups. Easy to grow, winter hardy and long time perennial, the sunchoke is a worthy plant despite it’s odd and more common name, Jerusalem artichoke.Sunchokes, more commonly known as “Jerusalem artichokes”, are perennial, native North American plants. They are members of the sunflower family and have no connection to Jerusalem nor to the artichoke family of plants.
Sunchokes have a nutty taste, somewhat like water chestnuts and can be used similar to a potato or a squash. They can also be eaten raw in salads. They are an underground tuber producing stalks in the summer which can tower nearly six to ten feet tall. A small but yet bright yellow flower will bloom from mid to late summer which attracts many pollinators.
Once in bloom, my sunchoke patch is a favorite place for the honey bees, yellow bumblebees and other native pollinators. It is not uncommon to see flocks of yellow finches, and other smaller birds, feasting on the tiny seeds produced by the flower.
The plant is generally not bothered by plant diseases, insects or wildlife, although an occasional deer might eat some foliage. In some rural areas, sunchokes are planted and used as pig feed. The pigs enjoy digging and consuming the tubers and will clear out a patch rather quickly. Some farms also use the leaves, stems and flowers as food for sheep, goats and cattle. The leaves and stems have more protein than corn.
Sunchokes can be easily grown in the vegetable garden with some caution. Once a sunchoke plot is established, it is there to stay. Even a small piece of a root left behind, will promptly grow the following season. It is best to have a dedicated and easily controlled patch of ground. Although some new shoots will appear outside of the bed, they are incorrectly said to be invasive. The truth of the matter is they are not, but once planted it is very difficult to remove them. If they do escape their dedicated plot of ground, a couple of mowings should solve the problem.
Sunchokes are not fussy, high maintenance plants. It seems all they need is dirt, although for bumper crops, compost should be applied during the early spring. Since they are a member of the sunflower family, they do best in full sunlight.
While they enjoy water, they are also drought tolerant. Sunchokes do best in a pH neutral soil. The tubers, which have a knobby potato appearance, are planted like potatoes, except there is no need to “hill” them during the season. They can be planted in the fall or in the spring.
While they can be harvested after the first growing season, larger tubers can be harvested following the second growing season. For some growers, the best time to harvest the tubers is after a hard frost or after several frosts. It is claimed the tubers, like many roots crops, are sweeter after a deep freeze.
The tubers do not store well and after several days in the refrigerator will become soft. It is best to only dig the tubers as needed.
One option besides planting in the garden, is to locate the tubers along a fence line, wood or field line. The tall plants make for a natural, permanent sunchoke hedge year after year during the growing season.
Sunchokes are an old crop once cultivated by the original peoples of North America. Discovered during the colonial era in North America, the tuners were shipped back to Europe where, through a series of events, they eventually became known as Jerusalem artichokes.
They are noted for their many health benefits particularly for those on a low starch diet. They are flavorful and can be used raw, cooked or in soups. Easy to grow, winter hardy and long time perennial, the sunchoke is a worthy plant despite it’s odd and more common name, Jerusalem artichoke.
