Description

Jerusalem Artichokes ship between October and March. The price for all varieties is $21.00 per pound with free shipping

Jerusalem Artichokes, Helianthus tuberosus, AKA Sunchokes are an important and impressive native food plant. This tuber forming Sunflower has been cultivated in North America by Native Americans for thousands of years. It is both productive and nutritious as well as easy to grow.

Sunchokes are found growing wild in much of North America. Wild tubers are usually smallish  and spread over a large area around the mother plant. There is tremendous genetic variability across its native range so among plants making small tubers, larger ones are sometimes found. Native Americans noticed this and selected the larger ones to grow as well as selecting the smoother, less knobby ones.

Sunchokes are easy to grow in the garden, sometimes too easy.  They can become weedy if you are not thorough in digging the tubers out at harvest so,we recommend planting in their own separate area where you can keep them in check by mowing around them or better yet, grow them in large containers for easier harvest.

To plant, start with a whole tuber, large ones can be cut in half. Plant about 4″ to 6″ deep in winter or early spring and get out of the way. This is an impressively growing plant. Sunchokes can grow, depending on the variety, from 5′ to 14′ tall. They do not require a highly fertile soil. Soil with too much nitrogen will make big tops with few tubers. Added Phosphorous will be appreciated. They can grow in any soil but do best in a loamy or sandy soil. We have had no trouble with them in our clay soil. If you grow in a container, a light bark mix works well. This usually contains some peat moss and compost. You can grow them in straight compost if the nitrogen content is not too high.

Jerusalem Artichokes can take over a garden. We prefer to grow them in large 15 gallon pots so we can contain them. If grown in the ground, the tiniest tuber will grow a very large plant. This is ok if you have a wild area to grow them in but be advised, in the garden with your garden vegetables,  they will be an aggressive competitor

The plants bloom in late summer and tubers do not form until that time. Harvest comes after the tops die back for the winter. The energy made through the summer is transferred into the tubers in late fall.

Cooking: Jerusalem Artichokes are best cooked. Some people can have digestive issues after eating Jerusalem Artichokes. Longer cooking times seem to alleviate this issue. They make a nice crunchy pickle. They can be used as a potato substitute in most recipes. They are high in inulin which is a diabetic friendly starch. This converts to Fructose when cooked. Jerusalem Artichokes are high in vitamins A, C, and E.

Varieties-

Gigante

-Very large pinecone shaped tubers. Earthy, nutty flavor with no sweetness. Plants are very large as well.

Mixed Genetics,

-This is just what it says, a mix of varieties from all across the country. Several different colors, shapes and sizes. Flavor will vary some. A surprise with every shovel full

Red Rover

-Red skinned long tubers. Vigorous tall plants. Mild flavor. Tolerates poor soil

Refla

-A red skinned variety that is variable in shape and size. Slightly sweet with a dense texture

Sideview,

-This started many years ago as Red Fuseau and White Fuseau has grown feral here at our farm. It still has the red skin but the tubers have grown more variable as the years have gone by. The plants likely outcrossed with wild Jerusalem Artichokes in the neighborhood so there is some variability in the tubers. Tubers have retained their smooth skins and lack of knobbyness.

Spindel

-Clump type good for containers. Smooth oval shape makes for easier peeling. Dense texture with a nutty flavor. Tubers size nicely

Stampede

– Large tubers round on the end tapering back to the root end. Vigorous and productive. Large plant

Star White

– Clump type good for containers. Nutty, not sweet. Lots of small to medium tubers. Productive

Supernova

-A heavy yielding variety with n unusual carrotlike flavor. The flavor is very appealing. Plants are shorter than most. Tubers grow in a large mass close to the base of the plant

Weisse Truffel

-Compact producer on a compact plant. 6’ tall. Smooth tubers close to the plant. Mild flavor with good production