Jerusalem Artichokes

[Shutsumon]

A couple of months back a friend with an allotment gave me some Jerusalem Artichokes. I meant to save a couple to plant somewhere if I liked them, but I liked them so much they all got eaten.

So I've been looking around for some in the shops and haven't seen them (not a common veg are they?)

However while doing this I've been wondering where I'd plant them if I did find some because I understand that a: they are tall tall plants and b: I understand they are very invasive. The tall isn't a great issue even though I only have a small garden but the invasive would be.

So, I was wondering, can you grow them in in bins or giant 50 litre+ pots like you can potatoes (with proper support for the tall foliage of course)? Or wouldn't that work?

I've consulted Google but it is curiously non-commital. It did point me to one thread where someone said apparently they grow well in bins but no back up or instructions.

If they can be grown in bins does anyone know where I can buy some?

[mamos]

That's weird because i have never had Jerusalem Artichokes before but there are some growing in the garden of our new place so we had some roasted this weekend and my wife had terrible tummy pains which she blamed on the chokes. I told her not to be so daft but reading this article on wikipedia she may have had a point

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_artichokes

mamos

[Shutsumon]

Yeah some people do get wind with them apparently (I didn't). Then again I know people who can't eat Broccoli for the same reason. Everyone's innards are different I guess.

[missy]

mamos, we had them roasted on sunday and didn't have any problems.
have got mine from abel and cole..

could you just plant them in the ground and leave them to grow?

[romie]

Hi
I'm new to all this as well, but i plan on growing Jerusalem Artichokes as well

I've read in a book (no idea which one, i've read about 20 recently ) that they are fine in large containers, mine will be going in recycled mango chutney butts (same size as water butts)
I struck lucky and noticed some in B&Q of all places about 4 weeks ago, and Horseradish (which i also plan on growing in a butt

Don't know if they still have them though
Good luck

[possum]

Jerusalem are not invasive at all. The issue with them is that if you decide that you no longer want them in a particular spot, you are likely to miss some tubers and they will sprout up again the following year. It is no worse than moving a potato patch. Just yank out the shoots the following year.
I would not recommend growing them in pots. If you are still worried about them spreading (they really don't) then puttin a wooden edge around the patch they are in and sinking it into the soil would stop that as the tubers do not grow very deep

[mamos]

I will have a go at growing some more as they were really nice roasted

mamos

[possum]

jerusalem artichokes are not known for giving stomach pains, just wind.
They really are exceptionally easy to grow. This year I have doubled our crop as they make great winter feed for goats/

there are a milion an one ways to cook them

traditionally either as cream of artichoke soup or roasted, but because of the number that we grown I have searched for recipes and experimented

beetroot and artichoke rosti - make in the usual way but use beetroot and artichokes instead of potato, or to reduce the artichoke flavour add a little bit of potato


pancakes - make pancake batter, add grated raw artichokes

add sliced to stir fries - give a simialr texture to adding water chestnuts

I have also just found this recipe, I haven't tried it yet, but plan to

Jerusalem artichoke pickle
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
2-1/2 pounds Jerusalem artichokes
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 pound cauliflower (optional)
Pickling salt
4 cups cider vinegar
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water
2 cups sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons celery seeds
1-1/2 teaspoons turmeric
2 teaspoons mustard seeds
1-1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 large green pepper
1 large red pepper
1 large onion

Preparation:
Peel and cut the Jerusalem artichokes into 1/2-inch chunks and drop into water acidulated with lemon juice. Cut up the head of cauliflower, break flowerets into 1/2-inch pieces, and peel and cut the stems into 1/2-inch cubes. Crisp the vegetables in a brine solution made this way: Cover the chokes and cauliflower with water to see how much water you need, then drain the vegetables, saving the water, and mix into it 1/3 cup pickling salt per quart. Place the vegetables in this brine and soak for 24 hours.

Combine the vinegars, water, sugar, celery seeds, turmeric, mustard seeds, and dry mustard in a stainless steel or enameled saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir to dissolve sugar, reduce heat, and let simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat.

While the brine is simmering, coarsely chop the peppers and onion. Drain the chokes and cauliflower, rinse them well to remove salt, and drain again. Combine chokes, cauliflower, peppers, and onion and pack into clean hot jars, following manufacturer's directions. Ladle in hot brine, a bit at a time, making sure it runs through the vegetables. (Putting a long, sterilized skewer in the jar and moving it around helps the syrup flow through the vegetables.) Fill to 1/8 inch of the jar top, seal, and process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes. Set pickles in a cool place for at least 1 week before serving.

[Peggy Sue]

I have a real abundance of J Arts so might just have a go at that pickle!

As for the pains...probably caused by wind

If you stuggle to find them in the shops (should get them this time of year OK) I'm happy to do a swaps and post some to anyone who wants them - they are SOOOOO easy to grow - but tall, very tall if you don't keep them trimmed down!

[Elizabeth]

Doesn't mention anything about growing in tubs - but a great picture of just how tall they get, and where not to grow them!!

http://www.allotment.org.uk/vegetable/j ... /index.php

[bodrighy]

They grow about 6ft tall and whilst not invasive they tend to just keep on going. My son who tends to have a flatulence problem is banned from eating them by his partner

If you do grow them, try and dig some up and leave for next year as when just left in the ground they get smaller each year. They are great for growing as a wind break for other plants and in my experience they don't usually need staking unless extremely high winds are the norm. You can get them in some of the supermarkets but I didn't say that At the end of the season you also have laods of green stuff for the compost heap so yopu win all round.

Pete

[ina]

jerusalem artichokes are not known for giving stomach pains, just wind.
They really are exceptionally easy to grow. This year I have doubled our crop as they make great winter feed for goats/

Do your goats eat the tubers? Mine wouldn't touch them, but they loved the greens...

[possum]

Yes, I give them a quick rinse off under the tap to get the worst of th emud off them, but that is it. The saanen adores them, I have just got 3 boers, so I have yet to see if they love them as much, they don't like carrots oddly enough

[Enormous Sage]

Hi
mine will be going in recycled mango chutney butts (same size as water butts)

That's a lot of mango chutney!

[MrDirtyBoots]

Grew them for the first time this year.

Very simple. I cut the pieces to about 2cm and just stuck them in. We still have loads in the ground. Each little piece grew about 3 or 4 meals worth.

We will keep them in a little dedicated area.

Growing in bins would be fine but they are not actaully invasive. The only problem would be not digging all the tubers up so they would grow again, but if you want them I don't see it as a problem.

Give them rich soil. Ours grew to 5ft but friends with poor soil had hardly any crop and they were only a few feet tall and didn't flower.