Jerusalem Artichokes (Sunchokes): A Guide to Growing, Harvesting, and Landscaping
When I married my husband and settled into our little red farmhouse in the spring of 2022, I inherited a lovingly landscaped yard and well established garden area. The garden already had several perennials, the most prolific of which has proven to be the Jerusalem Artichoke.
What Are Jerusalem Artichokes (Sunchokes)?
Jerusalem artichokes are a tall plant reaching anywhere from 4-12 feet tall. In late summer they bloom in clusters of beautiful golden flowers that look like a cross between sunflowers and daisies.
In fact they are considered a type of sunflower, with their scientific name being “Helianthus tuberosus” and sunflowers scientific name being “Helianthus annuus”. They also produce tubers that you can eat.
I found out another name for Jerusalem Artichokes is Sunchokes. My husband and his Dad have always called them Jerusalem Artichokes. I like how the name Sunchokes sounds prettier, and is not as long to say. However for the rest of this post I will call them Jerusalem Artichokes because that is the more common name for them.
9 Reasons to Plant Jerusalem Artichokes
If you are looking for a low-maintenance addition to your homestead or garden, here is why you should consider Helianthus tuberosus:
- Native to North America: They are well-adapted to local climates.
- Drought Tolerant: Once established, they require very little water.
- Beautiful Landscaping: They provide a beautiful wall topped with yellow blooms in late summer.
- Pollinator Friendly: They provide vital nectar for bees and butterflies late in the season.
- Wildlife Support: Birds love to snack on the seeds.
- Livestock Fodder: Cows and other grazing livestock love the greens! My husband and his Dad have pulled up extra ones or chopped some down to give to our cows
- Natural Dust Break: Their height makes them a perfect screen for dirt road traffic.
- Easy to Grow: They naturalize and spread with almost zero effort.
- Edible Tubers: They produce crunchy roots that taste like a cross between a potato and a water chestnut.
Pro-Tip: Because they spread so easily, some gardeners consider them invasive. It’s all about planting them in the right spot!
Managing Sunchoke Spread: Where to Plant
The main downside to Jerusalem Artichokes is that they take over! The ones along the fence at the back of my garden have not really been an issue but the ones along the front fence have been competing with some of my thornless blackberries, asparagus, and rhubarb.
Make sure to plant them where you are okay with them naturalizing and taking over the area . Such as…
- A field that you don’t intend to mow
- Areas where you are trying to outcompete invasive weeds
- Dedicated livestock grazing areas
- Along a fence that borders a dirt road, they can provide a dust break throughout the summer as well as look beautiful along the the fence
- Along a fence you don’t plan on planting anything else against
- Any other place you don’t mind them spreading
I intend to transplant my problem ones that are along my front garden fence to the fence that borders the dirt road we live on. My husband already planted a short row there with some of them and it looks very nice. They seemed to catch the dust from traffic better than the weeds that have been growing along the fence. So the thicker they grow along our fence that borders the dirt road the better I’ll like it.
Bloom time
They bloom in my area (Southern Missouri) from mid September through early October. So right now we are enjoying a bouquet of them Timberlynn and I picked on our kitchen table.
Harvesting
The harvesting of the tubers starts after the plants die back (usually after the first frost) and is done throughout the winter until they start growing again in the spring. Just dig up what you need when you need it and what you don’t use will grow back in the spring.
I’ve enjoyed the Jerusalem Artichokes’ blooms every year but have only eaten them once when my husband’s dad picked them for me to try. My husband, Carson says his favorite way to eat them is as fresh pickles. His mom would just slice them into the pickle juice of a jar of pickles they had finished and keep them in the refrigerator.
This fall-winter my goal is to use them a lot more. I want to try different recipes with them. Stay tuned because I will probably let you all know how that goes here on the blog.
“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”
Malachi 4:2
