My seventy-year old garden-and-math-friend gave me some Jerusalem Artichokes. It's amazing how fit and strong she is even at her age, but that's all total a different story to be told later on. Jerusalem Artichokes has no connection with artichoke the vegetable, rather it is related to sunflowers. That's why they are also sometimes called as Sunchokes, and is one of the native plant of the USA. I can't resist here and say that very few Americans know about Jerusalem Artichoke and that it is one of the native plants of the Northern and the Central USA!! The edible portion of the plant is the tuber that is grown underground. When you dig them up, they will look like potatoes. One can eat them raw -- my husband and I love eating it raw -- as it tastes like water-chestnut; or it can also be cooked. It has lots of minerals, vitamins and iron.
Now, you might be wondering where are the surprises here? Why did I say gardens are full of surprises? So, here is the story. Last February (February of 2012), my same friend gave me one Jerusalem artichoke. I brought it home and planted it in the garden. It produced a tall plant - about 10 feet tall - with lots of smaller sunflower like flowers (I took a picture but of course when you need it you can't find it). With the advance of winter, it died down. I went to the garden to dig out the artichokes. Lo and Behold! nothing was there. "Well!", I said to myself, "you are always learning from your mistakes while gardening; and, it gave you lots of bright yellow, jovial, smaller-versions of sunflowers. So,...", and then I forgot all about it. I made the decision that if I needed to grow Jerusalem Artichokes, then I should follow whatever all those websites say and plant them in October to get a good harvest in the next fall. Of course, I didn't do that.
Then on January 30th, I went to the garden to plant the artichokes that I got from my friend again. This time there were lots of them. I went to the same spot, to plant them out, where I planted my first Jerusalem Artichoke. As I started digging, guess what I found? Yes, you have guessed correctly - I found lots of Jerusalem Artichokes that my very first plant produced. Apparently, Jerusalem Artichokes do not grow closer to the mother plant; they can grow at a quite a distance (1 or 2 feet) away and they also grow really in deep underground. So, while harvesting you need to dig really deep to find all the artichokes. Also, dig the ground in a radial circle 1 or 2 feet away from the mother plant as this plant can spread and can almost become like a weed. But if you don't mind native plant of the USA, nutritious food and lovely bright yellow flowers from a plant, then you will not mind the weed-like spreading habit of Jerusalem Artichoke. So, here is my harvest :-):
Now, you might be wondering where are the surprises here? Why did I say gardens are full of surprises? So, here is the story. Last February (February of 2012), my same friend gave me one Jerusalem artichoke. I brought it home and planted it in the garden. It produced a tall plant - about 10 feet tall - with lots of smaller sunflower like flowers (I took a picture but of course when you need it you can't find it). With the advance of winter, it died down. I went to the garden to dig out the artichokes. Lo and Behold! nothing was there. "Well!", I said to myself, "you are always learning from your mistakes while gardening; and, it gave you lots of bright yellow, jovial, smaller-versions of sunflowers. So,...", and then I forgot all about it. I made the decision that if I needed to grow Jerusalem Artichokes, then I should follow whatever all those websites say and plant them in October to get a good harvest in the next fall. Of course, I didn't do that.
Then on January 30th, I went to the garden to plant the artichokes that I got from my friend again. This time there were lots of them. I went to the same spot, to plant them out, where I planted my first Jerusalem Artichoke. As I started digging, guess what I found? Yes, you have guessed correctly - I found lots of Jerusalem Artichokes that my very first plant produced. Apparently, Jerusalem Artichokes do not grow closer to the mother plant; they can grow at a quite a distance (1 or 2 feet) away and they also grow really in deep underground. So, while harvesting you need to dig really deep to find all the artichokes. Also, dig the ground in a radial circle 1 or 2 feet away from the mother plant as this plant can spread and can almost become like a weed. But if you don't mind native plant of the USA, nutritious food and lovely bright yellow flowers from a plant, then you will not mind the weed-like spreading habit of Jerusalem Artichoke. So, here is my harvest :-):
I've heard of these but have never eaten or grown them. I'll need to keep an eye out for them. I love anything that looks like a sunflower. :o)
ReplyDeleteCasa Mariposa, if you love sunflower, then you love these plants. They grow to about 6 - 10 feet tall and covered with small sunflowers. Because the plants grow so tall, you have to make sure that they do not topple over. So, stalks required. It becomes a scene - because from very far away you can see that tall plants covered with bright yellow flowers swaying and moving in the air. Spectacular sight, I have to say.
ReplyDeleteInteresting! I, too, have heard of these but never grown or eaten them. I love your description, though, of bright yellow flowers swaying in the wind. Interesting that they "move" away from the planting spot.
ReplyDeleteI have heard about them but never eaten them, they do sell them at my supermarket though, so it's easy enough to get hold of :-) How did they taste?
ReplyDeleteFascinating! Looks like it's definitely worth a try :)
ReplyDeleteWell done on your harvest - I've never tasted them either but don't like chestnuts, so suspect these are not for me either. It's alway good to find a plant when you think its gone isn't it? Good luck with your next harvest :)
ReplyDeleteHolleyGarden: Thank You :-). Do you live in CA? Sorry forgot where you are blogging from but if you are in CA, you might not be able to grow it as apparently it needs cold and snow!!! Well, that's what I heard; not sure about it. Give it a try, perhaps.
ReplyDeleteHelene: they taste like chestnut; very delicious actually :-) to my taste-buds. You can also cook and eat. So, instead of using potato, people can use jersulam artichokes as they help against diabetes.
Mark and Gaz: you might like it as it can be considered exotic plant - tall, lanky, evergreens (in many regions) with profusion of mini-sunflowers (actually that's what happened in our garden).
Angie: Awwww..sorry that you don't like chestnut, though they taste like water-chestnut; not sure if water-chestnut and chestnut are same or not. Yes, it is absolutely fascinating to find a plant when you think it's a gone case. Thanks :).
I also grow them and yes they will grow and grow in the same place you planted them - I think it is impossible to harvest them all. I find they are delicious and supposed to be quite good for you.
ReplyDeleteHere is my post:
http://oneadayinthegarden.blogspot.com/2012/10/sunchoke-success.html