jerusalem artichokes

[old tree man]

Hi all
can anyone tell me if jerusalms are ok to grow in my part of the world,
i live in the
NE england about 1 mile from the coast i am well sheltered i fancy using them as a screen then afterwards having something to eat once they are ready to harvest
many thanks
respect
old tree man

[ina]

Oh yes, they do grow - even up here... It's just about the only thing that did grow in my garden this year!

And while we are on the subject - do you have any interesting ideas how to cook them? I know you can eat them raw (grated in salad, with carrots and apple etc) - but salad isn't really my thing in this cold weather. And the only recipes I seem to be able to find are some for soup...

[Milims]

I too live in the North East - funnily enough 1 mile form the coast in a sheltered bit - and yes - they grow very well here - in fact from what I understand they grow anywhere!! They are yummy - love them roasted with olive oil

[Milims]

Ina - I sling them into a roaster with some chicken breasts and other veg - baby corn, squash, onions, mange tout etc - drizzle with olive oil, season and throw them into the oven - yummy

[ina]

I can imagine that's nice - but roasting a single portion of veg is simply not on... Will have to remember to do it next time I bake bread or something.

[Peggy Sue]

Not sure if anyone is still watching this, I understand now is the time to plant J arts and (despite the digestive issues ) I'd like to grow some.

I've not seen any 'seed' artichokes anywhere on the web or in garden centres or in our allotment seed club even, so I have bought some eaters down the market.

Do I need to scrub them like potatoes? Do they need to chit or shall I just plant them?

[ina]

Not sure if anyone is still watching this, I understand now is the time to plant J arts and (despite the digestive issues )

Never had those issues! Can't remember when I got my JAs - but I did get them through mail order, and more or less just bunged them in.

[marshlander]

Mine started out as eaters too.

Good, thinly sliced and stir fried 3 or 4 mins with other veg.

[QuakerBear]

They should grow fine. Had my first ones last year. I dug a hole with the toe of my boot, chucked 'em in, stamped the soil down and before I knew it they were taller then me.

My favourite recipie is in risotto:

Fry your onions and garlic, add the rice and chopped (roughly cubed) artichoke and stir a little, then add white wine, water and thyme. Simmer without stiring untill the rice tastes cooked. This reheats really well as well.

[sawfish]

They grow perfectly well up here in Glasgow so I dont think you'll have any problems.

[maggienetball]

My fav thing to do with JA's is definitely Palestine Soup (that's it's name, honestly). It's really smokey and delicious and, if you don't add cream, freezes really well. Loads of recipes on the web

http://www.riverford.co.uk/recipes/reci ... hp?catid=2

Try this site, it has 2 good recipes for JA soup and loads of other recipes as well.

[The Riff-Raff Element]

Bake them au gratin - plenty of cheese sauce and bacon bits like a cauliflower cheese.

Once thet are planted they are very hard to get rid of, though.

[QuakerBear]

Is it just me or do Jerusalem artichokes seem to be the vegtable of moment? I don't mind them, I love them. But being new to growing them, do they have any major pests I should be on the look out for.

P.S. the canal was frozen this moring. WOW. Just had to tell someone.

[red]

the biggest problem with JAs - apart from their fartiness - is that once established.. can be hard work to get rid of. we dont see this as a problem, but the JA bed is a perm feature on our plot.

[ina]

The good thing about JA is that they seem to grow whatever happens... Which is why it's just about the only thing I have from the garden this year! No pests (except the goats - they love the green, so I let them "cut them down" in autumn...); and frosthardy. Difficult to get rid of once they are established in your garden.