Jerusalem Artichokes

[nitiram]

Has any one grown these? Never tasted them before until last weekend when a friend gave a bag that was in her organic veg box. I kept one of the tubers back before eating the rest as i am sure it will grow if I plant it out.

When i read up in my books discovered conflicting advice. the venerable Mr Flowerdew says bung it in and leave it as it will just grow on and on for ever. next book says dig everything out each winter and re set with new tubers each spring...so which is best? I favour Mr Flowerdew's advice as he is rarely wrong.

[nitiram]

[SueSteve]

Just put it straight in, ds(6) planted mine and they are now about 18iinches tall.
I believe the reason that many say to dig up every last one is that they spread very quickly and if you leave one in then it will grow!
Mine are in a pot! They grow to about 3m tall!

[BAK]

It probably pays to try to dig out all the tubers that you have not eaten by the end of winter.

Pick the best tubers for replanting. We grow them in the same ground year after year and it does not appear to be a problem.

Note where you plant them because although you may have tried to get all the old tubers out they will still come up like mustard and cress (from the smallest pieces). We weed these out although they will keep coming for a while. We do this to minimise the amount of foliage (they are big as stated) and we think that you get a better crop that way.

[Eristic]

The more you dig up, the more you can eat.

[Jitterbug]

I think that they taste a bit like water chestnuts.  Kinda crunchy??

A bit off topic here - but I planted mine in February and still no sign of life - anyone else had this problem.

Jitterbug

[Barnowl]

Ithought I'd gone through the bed thoroughly (it's only 6ftx3ft), planted 4 saved tubers and 4 new variety in rows - about 30 shoots have already appeared all over the bed!

Last year each tuber produced nearly a full bucket of tubers so you don't need a lot of them...

[Kea]

EEkk I've forgotten to dig the unused ones up....no sign of them yet. The ground is like concrete so the chances of digging them up are not good.

[cleo]

I think that they taste a bit like water chestnuts.  Kinda crunchy??

A bit off topic here - but I planted mine in February and still no sign of life - anyone else had this problem.

Jitterbug

Apart from me you are the only one I have ever heard say that-I agree ;D

[mc55]

have to say, I'm getting more and more nervous about where I've planted my JA's ... they are a couple of inches high now, so probably too late to move.  Oh well, lots to learn each season.

[Robert_Brenchley]

You can still move them as long as they haven't grown massive. They're as tough as old boots, you certainly won't harm them.

[lin]

From my experience... NOTHING gets rid of Jerusalems once you have planted them, and I agree with all the advice, try digging out all the old ones and picking only the smoothest, roundest ones to replant.

Or just leave them in the ground and they will just take over. They make an absolutely delicious soup and I also like treating them as mash with butter.

The downside is "the wind" and I am sure you all know what I am talking about... apparently this plant is very hard for us to digest which is why we get this problem.

But I have found a useful addition when cooking... asafoetida... its a powder in a small pot in the herbs section in supermarkets, my local Asda always has some in, you just add a little bit into the cooking and it helps "fight the farts".

My friend puts it in brussel sprouts when boiling too... Lin

[weedin project]

Jitterbug/Kia
Don't worry about no-shows yet - my "accidentally left in from last years" are only about 2" high at the moment (and won't get much bigger as I don't want them there thank you very much).

[cornykev]

Mine are up about six inches ;) I have put mine in next to the shed along the back fence away from my main planting area, so they won't interfear with other plants, to make a WINDbreak and to stop prying eyes through the fence.  ;D ;D ;D

[cambourne7]

Mine are 4 inches and i am going to pop into there perminant planting bed the weekend.

I am heading off to lotty now just looking for jumper! Its cold out there.

[saddad]

I've dug over the old place three times now and just noticed some coming up in the brassicas we planted out last weekend! If you don't dig them out they tend to get crowded and produce small inferior tubers...
Great soup and great par boiled and fried/roasted...
Wind? We all fart now and then... this just makes it more obvious...
;D

[cornykev]

Just come back from the lottie they are actually about twelve to fifteen inches high now.  ;D ;D ;D

[mc55]

how do you think they would fare in a large container ?  I've got some half waterbutts with holes in the bottom that I am wondering about planting up.  I'd definitely be able to keep my eye on them in a container.

[SueSteve]

Mine are doing great ina  potato bucket!