Allotments 4 All

Hi Guys,

I've just taken over a plot with an abundance of Jerusalem Artichokes on it already.  They are approx. 4ft tall and I dug one up which seemed ok from the outside but was a bit on the hollow side when split open.

Are these still okay and when should they be harvested?  Please

All advice welcome.

Doug

Its the roots you want, not the stem! 
Unless you mean the roots were hollow?

I would not worry about what the tubers look like at the moment, you do not harvest them until a lot later when the plant had died back and new tubers have formed.

When the plants have died back, cut the stems down to 1-2ft so you know where they are, and then just dig up any you want during the autumn/winter.

I would love to try Jerusalem Artichokes before I grow them but never see them in the supermarkets. Does anyone know of a supermarket that sells them?

Duke

They aren't in season until autumn/winter, so wouldn't be in the shops anyway. I think Waitrose used to do them. Try putting a post in Swap shop here, you may be lucky!

USC, they should get a lot taller and have lovely sunflower-like flowers soon (they are related to sunflowers), which I've used as cut flowers. When you harvest them,  just replant a few tubers for next year.