• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Backyard Gardening Australia

  • In The Garden
    • How to Grow Vegetables
    • How to Grow Fruiting Plants
    • How to Grow Herbs
    • How to Grow Ornamental Plants
    • Diseases and Pests
    • Gardening Methods, Ideas and Tips
  • In the Kitchen
    • Recipes
    • Preserving
  • Aquaponics
  • Gardening Attractions and Events
  • Shop
  • Show Search
Hide Search

How to Grow Jerusalem Artichokes: Learn to Grow a Nutritional Powerhouse

Daniel Dohrman · February 28, 2022 ·

Jerusalem artichoke is also known as sunchoke, earth apple and sunroot and produces an edible tuber similar looking to ginger. The plant produces a long stem that has a flower like a sunflower only smaller. The tubers are sweet with a nutty creamy flavour. Jerusalem artichokes should not be confused with globe artichoke.

Jerusalem Artichoke flowers
Jerusalem Artichoke flowers

Planting your Jerusalem Artichoke tubers

Plant your tuber in Spring to a depth of about 5cm and about 50cm apart.

Where to plant your Jerusalem Artichokes

Plant your Jerusalem artichokes in full sun, there isn’t too much soil preparation required for these as they seem to thrive on neglect, but we always recommend planting in a well-composted garden bed, with good drainage to stop the tubers from rotting and a good layer of mulch as a healthy soil will deter pest such as root-knot nematodes. Jerusalem Artichokes can be grown as a perennial and just harvest the tuber as needed. If you plan to grow them in this way, remember to choose a garden bed that they can be just left to grow in. We grow them in this way and now have a dedicated raised garden bed for them. They also can grow between 2-3m tall.

Caring for your Jerusalem Artichokes

Jerusalem Artichokes is a bit of set and forget crop. If grown as a perennial check the soil condition and amend where necessary with compost and manure. Once flowered and the plants begin dying back cut stalk off at just above ground level. The tubers can be left in the ground until you are ready to harvest them as they won’t begin sprouting again until the next spring. Also, remember if you are growing them as perennial to leave some of the tubers in the ground for next year’s crop.

Jerusalem Artichokes Tubers
Jerusalem Artichokes Tubers

Common Problems with Jerusalem artichoke

Root-Knot Nematode

We had a small issue with this last year as we had planted the Jerusalem artichokes in a new garden bed which was still developing. I believe know that the soil has aged, and health improved I believe we will not see this issue again. Here is how we boost our soils

Slugs and Snail

Slugs and snails can be a bit of an issue eating the foliage, especially when young and destroying tubers. I have found that they only seem to eat the tuber if they are exposed or near the surface so monitors the garden bed and recover when necessary. Here is how we deal with slugs and snails

Word of Advice

Jerusalem artichokes have an inulin form of carbohydrates. The human digestive system cannot break inulin down but the bacteria in the colon metabolise it, this can create flatulence. We recommend eating them in a small serving. They are also very nutrient-rich in copper, iron, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, and thiamine, which is very good for our health.

Jerusalem Artichokes grow tall, these are over 2 metres tall
Jerusalem Artichokes grow tall, these are over 2 metres tall

Recipes

Smashed Jerusalem Artichokes with Thyme Butter

Crispy Jerusalem Artichoke with Caramelised Onion Relish Recipe

Jerusalem Artichoke Bread and Butter Pickles

Filed Under: In The Garden Tagged With: easy, Jerusalem Artichoke

Primary Sidebar

After blanching and cooling allow them to air dry on the sink for a few hours

How to Blanch Broccoli and Cauliflower: A Step-by-Step Guide

The fun part, time to plant the seeds

Starting a New Garden Bed in Sandy Soil: A Step-by-Step Guide

Seed raising mix

Homemade Seed Raising Mix: For Thriving Garden Plants

Check out this Zinnia flower

How to Grow Zinnias: From Blossom to Bliss

We have sowed 120 corn plants with the plan to grow more this year

Summer Vegetable Planting Guide: What we are growing

Shop

Products

  • 4623d290-5fd8-407d-b167-278d84de5b27 Children's Crewneck T-shirt Apprentice Gardener Produce Eater $29.99
  • c8764d21-e0f4-46b6-a799-065c2095b7af Gardening Hoodie - It's Not Hoarding if it's Plants $79.95
  • 218707d7-f1a6-4d5d-9a30-cd5648451405 Gardening T Shirt - It's Not Hoarding if it's Plants $39.95
  • 6a5777d9-944c-4a53-a241-64b8f1d33a72 Gardening Hoodie - To Plant a Seed is to Have Faith in Tomorrow $79.95
  • 386a8158-85ae-45e7-9cdf-e6c47aeaf1fd Gardening T Shirt - To Plant a Seed is to Have Faith in Tomorrow $39.95

Copyright © 2025 · Daily Dish Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in