Jerusalem Artichokes

[lottielady]

Just in case anyone is trying them for the first time this year ( thats me that is!)

Jerusalem Artichokes - from seedling to flower

LLx

[borderbabe]

Thanks I'm trying them for the first time this year now I know what I'll be looking for!

[jean]

I had go last year and found that they "multiply" very quickly. I've moved them to a redundant corner of my plot where they can spread all they like. I was pleasantly surprised at the flowers. Had far too many and couldn't give them away in the end.

[Deleted]

Just bringing this back up for anyone who is interested.

www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Helianthus+tuberosus

It is worth considering a permanent site for JA's as they will establish themselves very readily, and are not that easy to remove ...

I grow a variety called Fuseau (was given them) reputed to be minimalist on the gas issue - yes there is a downside to everything ! They are well appreciated in our household, and are eaten either boiled and mashed, or chopped and stir fried (delicious and crunchy) or as gnocchi - se recipes.

[Tig]

Thanks Derek

[purplejulia]

Glad this thread has been revived. OH is going to grow them - I am refusing him my veg plot as they take over. I will refer him to info when he is ready!

[Dutchy]

I had them in the garden last year.
I wonder how tough they are.
When I had a broggle I found no sign of them in the shaded border ( not even a thimble sized one) and out of at least ten plants in the sunny border I came up trumps with.... 7 knobly mini artichokes. 5 were added to mashed potatoes to feed two people. That is aside the Chicory and the meatball.
I replanted two and now will have to wait and see if any plants will show where I did not replant.

Quite curious to find out if I will set the record by having succesfully grown JA to death

[Deleted]

Please correct me if wrong, but I think shade is about the one thing JA's can't cope with ...

[Dutchy]

;D Ah wasn't my fault then.
But they did grow well in the shade and they did produce a lot of flowers.
Did that deplete the knobly bits of them then?

Oh and the ones that did not do too well were in full sun but the yield was very low for something said to be so agressive.

[purplejulia]

Planted 2 varieties of Jerusalem artichokes last Sunday in OH veg plot along with his asparagus. I am leaving it up to him to look after as I didn't want them planted with my veg.

So how long before anything happens?

PJ

[Tig]

Good question - where is Derek when you need him

[Dutchy]

Mine are coming up.
The ones in my warmer garden are app 2 inch the ones at MssK ... one is up and maybe an inch high.
Check your plots ladies, the monster Helianthus has started growing ;D

And the ones in the shade which I thought I killed ?
You guessed. They are on their way to the allotment ;D

[Tig]

Thanks Dutchy - I can see one poking through ;D

[Dutchy]

Good one Tig.
There will be more, much more, very soon

[purplejulia]

I thought I would revive this thread with a pictorial fanfare as I said earlier on these vegetables are nothing to do with me. I haven't done any broggling yet but the plants are growing very tall!

[Tig]

Well done Mr PJ

Mine are over 6' now - and I read somewhere recently that you should remove the flowers to get a better crop?? And that you should earth them up same as spuds?? Anyone else bother doing this??

Just remembered where I read this info

www.exhibition-seed.info/cultivation.htm#artichoke


x Tig

[purplejulia]

Here are my Jerusalem Artichoke plants - some are about 8 feet tall now and flowering. May have a little poke about at the weekend, even though, theoretically, they are not my plants!



How are yours Tig?

PJ

[Tig]

Huge, but windswept PJ I have not staked them, I don't think having a significant lean will affect what is going on under the soil! One flower is just showing a bit of yellow on mine despite lots of buds.

I am not going to disturb the soil until next February time, so it's fingers crossed that they are growing more tubers. I read that they need a frost to become sweet, and I like the fact that you can eat quite a few without putting on weight Although as Derek says, I think you have to consider the other 'wind' factor

x Tig

[purplejulia]

They were OH's choice of veg - he used to live on them before I met him. I am conscious of the "wind" factor and said I wasn't interested in eating them either and I will keep a room's distance from him after he's eaten them.

I hav e just remembered you are not supposed to harvest them until the leaves have turned brown, so I will perhaps leave them a while yet.

[Dutchy]

Mine had a lie down as well but I managed to get most upright again. The nice free draining soil and full sun at MssK got them growing huge

Purple don't broggle yet. Ah you already know. Yes. Normally you harvest after the flowers are gone and the stems leaves and all brown. You then cut them short to a hand width above ground so you remember where they are and you dig them up when you need them. They keep well under the ground this way.
Unless you have a non hardy variety but i think yours is the hardy one as it flowered.

Has any one who ate them before noticed that the internal human combustion system tends to go a bit erm windy?
Maybe we should eat them with fennel

[Tig]

;D

[purplejulia]

This is what they look like now - with my DB standing next to his pride and joy



PJ

[Dutchy]

Wait till next year and the ones you missed digging up have a go.
They seem to grow bushier and bigger per year.
DB looking good too

[Tig]

Looking great PJ (and DB )

Wish I had staked mine now - maybe next year, when the ones I miss when harvesting grow again ;D

x Tig

[Dutchy]

The ones at MssK not "stalked" and defenitely leaning over.
The chair is to give an impression of their size.
Not to sit there as we had beautiful sunshine alternated by torrent rain. The latter the more frequent one.

[dirtyboots]

Yours look as though they are in the same state as mine Duchy!
Mine are in shade most of the time but don't seem to mind. We like soup made with them, not tried roasting them,maybe tomorrow?

[Dutchy]

Mine are still flowering so I don't go for a broggle yet.
The ones in my own garden went brown so those were dug up and now sit in sand untill I fancy them.
DB I can understand the soup as they do tend to fall apart after as little as 15 minutes boiling.
I suppose for roasting I'd cook for 5 minutes and hopefully be able to remove the fat peel they have. Then do the roasting bit.
So how did you do with yours, soup or roast?
And has any one got nice recipies for JA's ?

[Tig]

I haven't touched mine yet - but the foliage has all died back and gone brown now - should I, shouldn't I??

Found these recipes online Dutchy ...

www.eattheseasons.co.uk/Archive/jerusalem_artichoke.htm

I have just roasted them in the past - not very adventurous but tasty ;D

(followed by mild gales )

x tig

[purplejulia]

Thanks for the recipes Tig. The leaves on OH's JA went brown a couple of weeks ago. He made a mush of his overcooked JA last week and I refused to eat them - did not want the "wind" problem.

I like the look of the Salad Roasted Beetroot and JA recipe, as I have just harvested some beetroot and have plenty of spinach still growing in the veg patch.

PJ

[Tig]

Did OH get many off them PJ? Were they a decent size?

It is a bit chilly here today, but I am considering getting the fork out and lifting one of the plants ..

x Tig