Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: katynewbie on May 26, 2006, 16:10:17

Title: Jerusalem Artichoke
Post by: katynewbie on May 26, 2006, 16:10:17
:o

Put them in April 4th and to date just have a couple of them showing their faces above ground. Did I plant them too deep? If so, can I dig them up and put them back at the proper depth?

:-\
Title: Re: Jerusalem Artichoke
Post by: roobarbpie on May 26, 2006, 17:46:07
How deep did you plant them? I bet they'll come up anyway - them seem virtually indestructable. I've just dug up loads today after thinking I'd removed them all in August. If yours die, just PM me and I'll send you some of mine. :)
Title: Re: Jerusalem Artichoke
Post by: Hippychick on May 26, 2006, 17:48:35
How deep did you plant them?

This is my first year of growing them so I can't help in any expert kind of way, only in that I'm going through the learning process myself aswell.  A friend of mine said to plant them 6 inches down and be ready to stake them up later in the year.  I planted mine on the 30th April and they have just come through in the last week or so.

Bit dicey trying to dig them up now as if they are sending any shoots out the chances are you'll damage them as you lift them.  If they are still not showing in the next week or so it may be possible underground pests have got to them, or that they just haven't taken.  But some are obviously grwing so maybe the others will start to come through soon.  Fingers crossed thay do. :)
Title: Re: Jerusalem Artichoke
Post by: cleo on May 26, 2006, 17:52:17
They will come up for sure. I preach the Gospel of moving them every year to avoid `runt` growth-and guess what?-I missed some-two have popped up in my carrot row :-[
Title: Re: Jerusalem Artichoke
Post by: Hippychick on May 26, 2006, 18:06:19
Cleo - how do you know when it is time to harvest them.  And how do you do it ???  Sorry, I was given some by a friend, told to plant them 6 inches deep, then stake later in year, then left to it.
Title: Re: Jerusalem Artichoke
Post by: cleo on May 26, 2006, 18:27:58
OK-six inches is not too deep. They will grow to around six foot and will not need staking unless where you are is very windy(ha ha yes folks I know about the `wind` pun ;D)

Around late Autumn/early winter the foliage will die away and the stems will start to look woody-that`s a good time to lift the first ones. The tubers are totally hardy though so lift as you need throughout the winter/early spring.


You can leave a few to re-grow but I find that creates a forrest of inferior plants-I take some plump ones around Feb and plant in a new location.
Title: Re: Jerusalem Artichoke
Post by: katynewbie on May 26, 2006, 18:54:57
;D

Thanks folks! What did I write somewhere about being patient?!!

;)
Title: Re: Jerusalem Artichoke
Post by: saddad on May 26, 2006, 19:00:51
You can't plant them too deep, even in our rock hard clay, but to avoid wind rock later in the season cut them off at shoulder height at the end of Oct so they don't waste energy trying to flower and they get less rocking so more of the roots swell!
What Var. have you got? Have tried Dwarf Sunray T+M but Fuseau gives much better spindle shaped tubers
Title: Re: Jerusalem Artichoke
Post by: katynewbie on May 26, 2006, 19:34:04
Got Fuseau! Chose them because they are less fiddly to peel. Cant wait for the soup etc!!

;D
Title: Re: Jerusalem Artichoke
Post by: ermck1 on May 26, 2006, 20:16:56
My Jerusalems are 6 to 8 inches tall. I also planted at 6 inches deep. Maybe the problem is definition of 6 inches.

Mike
Title: Re: Jerusalem Artichoke
Post by: katynewbie on May 26, 2006, 20:31:42
;D ;D ;D ;D

Lol...guess you know the joke about why women can't park? One for the Watershed maybe!!
Title: Re: Jerusalem Artichoke
Post by: cardinalflower on May 28, 2006, 17:13:09
roobarbpie your inbox is full.

CF x
Title: Re: Jerusalem Artichoke
Post by: OllieC on May 29, 2006, 17:50:00
Just a thought - you do know that slugs love the growig tips of JA's? It's worth checking they haven't been munched.
Title: Re: Jerusalem Artichoke
Post by: saddad on May 29, 2006, 20:04:43
They love the odd frosted tuber even more, leave a few out on a slab and watch them home in from miles around!
;D