Back in December, we planted a handful of Jerusalem artichokes (a.k.a. sunchokes) that had sprouted in the refrigerator. Having never grown them before, it was an experiment (as is much of what we do here at Gardenerd). We knew them to be invasive, so we opted to plant the tubers in a dilapidated container to keep them as contained as possible but still connected to the soil. The bottom was missing on the container, so there was still a chance for tubers to spread forevermore, but we took the chance anyway.
Now, 6 months later, we have 8-foot-tall flower spikes that resemble sunflowers, and little tubers to show for it. Here’s what we did:
Jerusalem Artichokes (or sunchokes) that have sprouted.
Several weeks after planting them in our biodegradable (and partially biodegraded) pot, sprouts appeared.
Sprouts took their time to pop above the soil.
Through the winter, we watered every few days to keep the soil moist. Stalks grew to a foot, then two feet, and onward. As weather warmed up, growth accelerated. We fed them with organic vegetable fertilizer and worm castings once during the season, and here’s where we are now.
Reaching for the sky, sunchoke flowers start to open.
Our pot further degraded and soil has spilled out through the cracks, exposing baby tubers beneath.
Tubers form like potatoes, on long stolons.
Small tubers have a ways to go yet.
We’ll add more soil to cover the exposed tubers and keep watering through the season. By mid-summer we expect to have full-sized tubers to harvest.
Tubers form near the flower stalk, just below the surface.
If it seems like there’s not much to growing these babies, it’s because it’s true – it’s simple. Plant tubers 5 inches deep, water them regularly and wait. You’ll have a crop of flowers and tubers before you know it. Pick a perennial spot because they spread and multiply, like sweet potatoes.
Still small, but the prospect of the harvest is exciting!
Stay tuned for more when we harvest these tubers. Harvesting should be easy since we planted in a container. We’ll find out how far the tubers spread, too!
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Hi Christy,
I have these growing as well (in the ground though) and I was inspired to plant them after having them at a restaurant in NYC. They are definitely invasive and you have to be brutal with them but they’re soooo good! I’ve also found the squirrels LOVE them and move them around for me which is fun because they randomly blossom in the oddest spots (and never make it to a second season).
Happy gardening and it’s nice to have found your site,
Caroline