Jerusalem artichoke is a versatile plant and a close relative of the sunflower. We tell you how you can grow the Jerusalem artichoke tuber yourself.
In the 17th century Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus), also known as the Jerusalem artichoke or earth pear, reached Europe by sea from South America . At first, the brown or red tuber, which tastes a bit like the artichoke (Cynara scolymus), was reserved for the rich and noble. Later, however, it increasingly spread among the people and was an important staple food for a long time. Over time, however, the potato (Solanum tuberosum) replaced the high-fiber tuber and thus Jerusalem artichoke fell into oblivion except for its use as animal feed. Jerusalem artichoke has been in vogue again for some time now and hobby gardeners like to grow it again. But when do you plant Jerusalem artichokes? And what do you have to consider? We explain step by step how you can grow and cultivate Jerusalem artichokes in the garden yourself.
Planting Jerusalem Artichoke: When is the best time?
The best time to plant Jerusalem artichokes is in spring, between the beginning of April and mid-May. Alternatively, Jerusalem artichoke tubers can be planted in autumn, between late September and early November. The plants then only sprout in the next spring, but a little earlier than the tubers planted from April to May. Unlike the potato, Jerusalem artichoke is hardy and can therefore be planted at any time and overwintered outdoors.
Grow Jerusalem artichoke: location and soil requirements
Topinambur makes no great demands on its location. The tuber thrives best on lighter, loamy-sandy soils that can retain soil moisture after rain or watering. The perennial has a fairly high water requirement and needs a good water supply for tuber formation. On waterlogged soil, however, it can happen that Jerusalem artichoke grows only sparsely or not at all. The sunflower-like plant prefers places with high light intensity, but Jerusalem artichoke also tolerates partial shade well. jebetter the location is adapted to the needs of Jerusalem artichokes, the higher the yields of the tasty tubers. Jerusalem artichoke can always be planted in the crop rotation, but it should not be planted after sunflowers or after itself, as in this case root diseases often occur, which also remain in the soil longer.
As in every mixed culture, Jerusalem artichokes have good neighbors and others that should be avoided. The tubers get along well with climbing cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) and bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris). Jerusalem artichokes should not be cultivated next to potatoes, however, because the two plants compete underground.
Tip: Jerusalem artichoke is particularly suitable as a privacy screen, as it can grow to a height of over 3 meters depending on the variety. However, the plants should be sheltered from the wind or tied up, as thunderstorms and gusts of wind can easily break off the stiff side branches and knock over entire plants.
Plant Jerusalem Artichoke
When planting Jerusalem artichoke only he althy, whole tubers should be used. Although Jerusalem artichoke can be grown from seed, cultivation with the rhizome tubers is much better, faster and easier. Jerusalem artichoke seeds are therefore hard to find on the market and only very few varieties ripen, making it difficult to obtain them yourself.
Planting Jerusalem artichoke tubers: Step-by-step instructions
- Before planting, the tubers are propelled on a plate with water on the bright window sill for a few days. Fine roots then quickly form on the Jerusalem artichoke, which later accelerate growth. In many nurseries you can already get young plants with several shoots.
- Now the soil is deeply loosened and freed from stones. On nutrient-poor locations or very heavy soil, some mature compost should be worked in before planting.
- The tubers are planted about 30 to 40 cm apart and at a depth of about 10 to 15 cm. A distance of 70 to 80 cm is left between the rows. If sprouts are already present, carefully bury the young Jerusalem artichoke plant at the specified planting depth, whereby the green shoots are of course exposed.
- After planting the Jerusalem artichoke tubers, the soil should be lightly pressed and watered vigorously.
- If itselfOnce the first shoots have formed, you can pile up the earth around them. This can lead to the formation of more tubers because the heaped up soil heats up faster and also offers more space for the development of more tubers.
Note: A root barrier for Jerusalem artichoke makes sense, especially if not all tubers are always harvested, but many remain in the ground. Every tuber, no matter how small, gives rise to new shoots in all directions, the plant literally proliferates and spreads quickly. A rhizome barrier for Jerusalem artichoke is therefore recommended here.
Planting Jerusalem artichokes in pots
If you don't have your own garden but have a sunny balcony, you can alternatively plant Jerusalem artichokes in pots. Here you should make sure that the bucket is big and deep enough and contains enough soil for tuber formation. Large balcony boxes are also suitable if you use dwarf varieties. There are special, low-growing Jerusalem artichoke varieties that are particularly suitable for growing on balconies and terraces. Jerusalem artichokes can also be cultivated in raised beds. To do this, first fill the planter generously with pre-fertilized potting soil, such as our Plantura organic tomato soil. It already contains nutrients that are important for Jerusalem artichoke, such as potassium, and thus supplies the tubers with water for the first time after planting. The tubers are now placed individually in the ground, pressed lightly and covered with about 15 cm of soil.
In pots, Jerusalem artichoke must be watered not only after planting, but regularly so that tubers form. However, there must be good water drainage to prevent waterlogging. After sprouting, a little more soil is piled up and, ideally, regularly fertilized organically, most simply with a liquid fertilizer such as our Plantura Tomato and Vegetable Fertilizer.
Tip: Blossoms are not relevant for tuber formation, they can be easily removed and then serve as decorative cut flowers. In fact, flowerless Jerusalem artichoke plants may produce more tubers because they don't put any energy into bud development.
A close relative of Jerusalem artichoke and also a staple is yacon. We present the tuber from the Andes and give tips on growing it in your own garden.