Author Topic: Jerusalem Artichokes (Read 4441 times)

wivvles · « **on:** March 10, 2005, 08:32:09 »

Mother in Law has sent me 8 - 10 tubers. I've read a few things - but wondered if anyone here had any experience of growing them and any tips/pointers?

Doris_Pinks · « **Reply #1 on:** March 10, 2005, 08:52:14 »

They grow VERY tall, so good for a windbreak! (And for shading other plants too!)
And talking about wind, errrrrrr, they can give you a lot of it!

I had so many last year I couldn't give them away, from about 20 tubers, we had masses.

Make sure you don't leave ANY parts behind when you dig them up or they will become next years weed! ;D ;D

But I found them easy to grow, and absolutely brilliant at breaking up my rotten clay soil on a new bed, they were worth growing just to save my back! DP

Multiveg · « **Reply #2 on:** March 10, 2005, 09:55:21 »

I think they collect the wind and release it later ;D ::)

Clayhithe · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2005, 22:26:28 »

We grew them once: never again!

They are easy, they are tasty, they are VERY embarassing.

chrispea27 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2005, 06:56:31 »

:-X :-X They also spread like wildfire. Once you have them you will ALWAYS have them!

terrace max · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2005, 18:51:46 »

It took me a year or so to cook with them successfully but I'm a convert to jerusalem far...sorry... artichokes.

They're just so hardy, nutritious and are abundant when little else is - like now.

I've got a recipe for nettle and JA soup if you want it: perhaps unbelievably it's very, very nice...

cleo · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2005, 22:08:14 »

I really should be packing but have to post.

JAs are gorgeous,nice with carrot and coriander(you have to bend the rules a bit to grow fresh stuff at this time of year)in soup.

Raymond Blanc has a good gratin-I think it is in his book `cooking for Friends`

But you do need to get them all out to avoid a forrest of runt growth-take the best tubers and re-plant anytime now.

Stephan

MarthaMad · « **Reply #7 on:** April 07, 2005, 15:29:43 »

Are the plant's themselves attractive? I've got a troublesome neighbor that I'd like to block out...

terrace max · « **Reply #8 on:** April 07, 2005, 16:08:01 »

Attractive? No - imposing is the kindest thing you could say about them. I've planted some to screen off my very nice but nosey neighbours...!

djbrenton · « **Reply #9 on:** April 07, 2005, 22:10:11 »

"It took me a year or so to cook with them successfully "

I think you're overcooking them Max.

terrace max · « **Reply #10 on:** April 08, 2005, 09:27:00 »

David R · « **Reply #11 on:** April 08, 2005, 13:09:59 »

Hello everyone, new allotmenteer here.

But....Jerusalem artichokes, what a vegetable!

fantastic roasted with olive oil. Grow Fusea variety, described as dwarf but get to 6 ft, the other varieties are monsters.

if you dig them up and leave them as long as possible before cooking, the side effects are reduced.

My allotment partner brings them to work and offers them round without telling people what they are eating, then sits back and waits.

Lizard Man · « **Reply #12 on:** April 13, 2005, 22:11:14 »

Hi David R

Your allotment partner sounds like a barrel of laughs! :D

I find that JAs are best turned into soup with a little sliced and fried shallot and garlic and a small amount of cream added. The after effects are ever present, but the JAs are very nutritious and very filling.

Multiveg · « **Reply #13 on:** April 14, 2005, 09:18:54 »

Fathers in Germany won't have a problem eating JA???

David R · « **Reply #14 on:** April 14, 2005, 12:36:47 »

(should be in recipes really but it kind of fits) Was speaking to a freind the other night, he is a sous chef in London. What he does is slice them in half, par boil them then toss them in butter on a frying pan. Bit of garlic, bit of salt, pepper... away you go. people pay loads for the pleasure.

fat larry · « **Reply #15 on:** April 14, 2005, 12:45:29 »

saw some in homebase, but three quid for a packet ... anyone know a cheaper source. i'd love to get some in.

David R · « **Reply #16 on:** April 14, 2005, 12:54:51 »

grocers ::)

Obelixx · « **Reply #17 on:** April 14, 2005, 14:22:54 »

Jerusalem artichokes are very tall with yellow flowers similar to sunflowers but much smaller. They make a very good soup - google for Palestine soup and a delicious gratin if you follow a recipe for potato gratin dauphinois but swap the veggies.

I once fed them to some NZ firends who eat a lot less fibre than we do so their digestive systems went into shock. They were up all night with dreadful wind and were convinced it was food poisoning!!

Doris_Pinks · « **Reply #18 on:** April 14, 2005, 15:32:23 »

That made me laugh Obbelix! We grew them last year, and erm none in ground this year!! I couldn't give them away to ANYONE! Their wind producing qualities go before them! ;D But they are delicious!

Obelixx · « **Reply #19 on:** April 14, 2005, 21:02:02 »

I did actually grow mine as a windbreak but forgot to keep any for the next year's crop so have had to do without for some time as they are hard to find here. However, I found some nice big round ones on Christmas Eve in a small grocers' and have planted those. The male NZ still talks about his night of pain whenever I confront them with some new fruit or veg. His tastes are a bit plain, shall we say, and his digestion more used to liquid refreshment.

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Author Topic: Jerusalem Artichokes (Read 4441 times)