Sunchoke tubers

lisaphoto 2/11/2012, 4:29 pm

Any idea where I can get tuber starts cheap for sunchokes? I've never even heard of these before, but after watching a video on Growingyourgreens.com they sound interesting. He has them for sale for $20, and gurney's has them for $15, but that is a lot to spend on something I've never tasted

newstart 2/11/2012, 4:32 pm

I have been trying to find them. I called whole foods and they said they have them for I think it was $5 a piece. But have not been there yet to make sure. give them a call or maybe call a local garden place and see if maybe they can lead you to the right place

**camprn** 2/11/2012, 4:42 pm

check the produce section at the grocery store. Very Happy

**llama momma** 2/11/2012, 5:22 pm

I'm pretty sure sunchokes are the common name for Jeruselum artichokes. They are mild flavored from what I recall when I tasted them decades ago. I do remember for sure they can be invasive.

**camprn** 2/11/2012, 5:51 pm

llama momma wrote:I'm pretty sure sunchokes are the common name for Jeruselum artichokes. They are mild flavored from what I recall when I tasted them decades ago. I do remember for sure they can be invasive.

This is true, they are invasive and this year I would like to plant some out of the SFG.

**walshevak** 2/11/2012, 6:01 pm

They make great pickles. My aunt used to make them and I could eat a whole jar in nothing flat. Hmmmm, wonder if her daughter has the recipe.

Kay

**camprn** 2/11/2012, 6:39 pm

walshevak wrote:They make great pickles. My aunt used to make them and I could eat a whole jar in nothing flat. Hmmmm, wonder if her daughter has the recipe.

Kay

Ooooh, Kay, let us know! Very Happy

shannon1 2/12/2012, 6:37 am

llama momma wrote:I'm pretty sure sunchokes are the common name for Jeruselum artichokes. They are mild flavored from what I recall when I tasted them decades ago. I do remember for sure they can be invasive.

Yeppers! You can give the ones from the supermarket a shot, sometimes that works just fine.

lisaphoto 2/16/2012, 12:39 pm

I couldn't find them in the produce section. I am taking on a lot of new things this year, so maybe next year I'll invest in some. In re: to them being invasive, John from growingyourgreens.com grew them in 5 gallon nursery planters and got 8 pounds of tubers from one planter

**walshevak** 2/16/2012, 2:54 pm

There you go, save something for a new experience next year. Very Happy

Kay

AranMC 2/16/2012, 5:03 pm

I got some baby sunchoke tubers aka Jerusalem Artichokes last autumn from a neighbour. She'd planted them and then let them take over so my hubby dug up what he could find to get rid of them for her (ha, ha, ha....) and I planted them in a 4ft wide by 17 ft long by 2ft high raised bed....(about 22 tubers) all to themselves.. they can spread as much as they want, they ain't getting out of that bed...lol
I've never eaten sunchokes yet so this harvest will be my first time... I love almost all veggies so I don't think I'll dislike them...

Aran

**camprn** 2/16/2012, 6:31 pm

Here's a tip.... do not EVER roto-till a sunchoke bed. That is unless you want a bazillion sunchokes. Shocked

Nonna.PapaVino 2/17/2012, 2:28 am

Aran, No, your sunchokes probably won't grow out of the bed you've put them in, but they can get away from it IF you allow any to form flowers and seeds. Just like their close relative the sunflower, their seeds are attractive to critters. Something (I'm guessing squirrel) buried some seed in a large flower pot near the garden. At first I thought it was just a volunteer sunflower from feeders.....NOT. They are hard to eradicate in places you don't want them. I'm just saying. Nonna

shannon1 2/17/2012, 2:31 am

I have read for biggest tuber harvest do not let them flower. Very Happy

Nonna.PapaVino 2/17/2012, 2:34 am

Yep, Shannon, that's the OTHER reason not to let them flower. Sunchoke tubers 714994

Nonna

lisaphoto 2/17/2012, 12:12 pm

So, can you grow them from seed then? I've only seen listings of the tubers for sale

Nonna.PapaVino 2/17/2012, 12:16 pm

Lots of different cultivars of sunchokes out there. We found some extra large and tasty ones at the farmers' market in Healdsburg, CA, a couple of years ago, and I bought some specifically to plant when we got home. The do seem to set larger tubers than those usually seen at Safeway. The tubers inadvertently growing in the flower pot weren't as large. Nonna

AranMC 2/17/2012, 8:01 pm

I don't intend them to flower and set seed...lol
I think my growing season would be too short anyway (only 12 weeks) the neighbour we got them from said they never had a chance to flower before we got winter back...lol

Aran

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