jerusalem Artichokes question

GWN 5/2/2012, 11:19 am

Has anyone grown these? And eaten them?

**Turan** 5/2/2012, 11:32 am

A friend grows them for her CSA. I was thinking of it because they are so hardy. They make a really pretty wild sunflower hedge and can be perennial. I would not put them in the SFG but in a dedicated area they can romp in. Try eating some first, they are supposed to be a good alternative starch for diabetics. We found them good tasting but huge gas makers, to the point of discomfort. In small amounts maybe we could learn to eat them and not explode. I am still thinking of growing some as an edible summer hedge/wind break that the sheep and horses could eat in the fall.

boffer 5/2/2012, 11:59 am

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t6834-friday-s-rookie-post-iiisunroots

SwampCatNana 5/2/2012, 12:22 pm

Turan - if they are big gas makers, won't it hurt the sheep and horses as well?
Lee

**Turan** 5/2/2012, 1:52 pm

SwampCatNana wrote:Turan - if they are big gas makers, won't it hurt the sheep and horses as well?
Lee

I doubt it, their digestive systems are tailor made for eating more difficult to digest plants and they already eat up my sunflower plants in the fall. The sheep and horses would eat the plant growth, not the tubers. Bloat in sheep and horses is more linked to high nitrogen green foods than tougher stuff like this. The tubers are well known as a good food for man and beast, just some of us react more than others. It is sort of like beans (and beano might help), my DH loves old world beans but they have a very bad effect on his digestion, so I suspect he is just more sensative than a lot of people.

**camprn** 5/2/2012, 4:45 pm

I would not plant them in my SFG. I would plant them elsewhere. They are quite prolific. Shocked

GWN 5/2/2012, 5:05 pm

I likely will not be able to eat them. After radiation I am unable to eat many of the veggies I have grown to love.
It they are gasiforous for most folks they will be especially hard on me.

I ordered them before I read much about them, I did read about the glycemic index part.
Now I am wondering what to do with them.

**Turan** 5/2/2012, 9:08 pm

GWN wrote:
Now I am wondering what to do with them.

Privacy hedge maybe? One that won't break your heart if a deer eats it.

**camprn** 5/2/2012, 9:36 pm

Turan wrote:
GWN wrote:
Now I am wondering what to do with them.
Privacy hedge maybe? One that won't break your heart if a deer eats it.

Excellent! They really are a lovely sunflower.

GWN 5/3/2012, 10:14 am

so if I plant 5 of them along property line they will grow up into a hedge?

**Turan** 5/3/2012, 11:27 am

Or a clump that will spread? My friend has a hedge of them along one border of her field, the bees love them, but she planted a lot, I suspect. Here is some growing guide for them I found~

Planting
Planting should be early in the spring, when the soil can be
satisfactorily worked. Later planting results in reduced yields.
Whole tubers or pieces of tubers that are no less than two ounces and
have two or three prominent buds should be planted. Smaller seed
pieces will reduce yields but larger seed pieces (over 2 oz) will not
significantly increase them. Do not allow cut seed pieces to dry
before planting. Plant 3 to 5 inches deep, in rows 36 to 42 inches
wide with 15 to 24 inches between plants.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-1-a.html

**camprn** 5/3/2012, 11:34 am

If you want more of them run a rototiller through the roots, you'll get tons more.
http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/singlerecord.asp?id=870

GWN 5/3/2012, 10:15 pm

If you want more of them run a rototiller through the roots, you'll get tons more.

Or else.... what to plant between you and the neighbour you are really annoyed with thinking

MorningSong 5/19/2012, 7:51 pm

I have these coming up all over my yard instead of where I planted them last year.....along a fence by a road. I thougt they'd make a good natural privacy fence, if nothing else. But, they are very invasive and the tiniest piece of root will form a new plant... I did till the soil right in front of them last fall, but did not see any roots or tubers when I did it.

They do make nice hardy long-lasting yellow flowers that are great for cutting. I'm just a bit discouraged because mine have crept a lot.

As for the tubers, they should be unearthed in late summer-early fall before the plants completely die back for the winter. I have heard they are delicious and are similar to artichokes in flavor...

**walshevak** 5/19/2012, 9:27 pm

My favorite is still the sweet pickled one's my aunt used to make. My mother preferred them pickled with hot peppers.

Kay

GWN 5/20/2012, 11:21 am

But, they are very invasive and the tiniest piece of root will form a new plant.

Morning song, what sort of gardening zone are you in there, where I live, it gets down to minus 25 celcius.
I am thinking that in a colder climate they might be less aggressive?

MorningSong 5/20/2012, 12:00 pm

Hi GWN! I am in a 7A zone:

Temp min: -17.7°C to -15.0°C, Medium freeze: Oct 20 to Apr 25

I would think that the agressiveness (invasiveness) of a plant depends on it's DNA. I'd think that Jerusalem Artichokes might "suffer" in colder climates, in that it's tubers might not make it through a harsh winter, therefore it could appear less invasive. One would need to do a little research and see what temperature limits it can withstand.

**camprn** 5/20/2012, 12:02 pm

Our winter can get to -30F during the winter and they are just as invasive here.

GWN 5/20/2012, 12:07 pm

Our winter can get to -30F during the winter and they are just as invasive here.

OK I am convinced.
Perhaps I will plant them as a trial in an area where we are going to built a detached carport a year or so from now.
They seem more of a weapon..... I have heard where they can make it into Fuel.
Not sure whether it was globe artichokes or jerusalem ?

CindiLou 5/20/2012, 3:43 pm

They also seed by the flowering. So if you don't want them spreading you also have to prune before the flowers seed!

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