Cultivating Delicious Jerusalem Artichokes: An Insightful Guide
The appeal of Jerusalem Artichokes has seen a recent surge among health enthusiasts and individuals managing diabetes, stirring a wave of inquiries about home cultivation of this unique plant.
Jerusalem Artichokes may be an unfamiliar sight on supermarket shelves, yet these gems can be successfully grown at home. Blessed with remarkable vitality and a robust capacity for reproduction, Jerusalem Artichokes are low-maintenance and can be grown by anyone given the appropriate space.
Bringing Jerusalem Artichokes into your home garden not only broadens your culinary horizons but also allows you to nourish your family with wholesome, fresh produce. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about cooking with vegetables that you’ve cultivated in your own backyard.
In the following, we delve into the art of cultivating Jerusalem Artichokes— a nutritious and tasty source of inulin—right at your home.
When is the Best Season to Plant Jerusalem Artichokes?
The optimal time to plant Jerusalem Artichokes spans from winter through spring. Often, planting is done around April, while in colder regions, it’s preferable to plant from May to early June.
In regions that are not overly cold, planting can occur slightly earlier, between February and March. As Jerusalem Artichokes are originally from North America and thrive in colder climates, they tend to produce less impressive tubers in warmer regions.
While they can be cultivated throughout Japan, local variations need to be considered for home cultivation. In certain areas, such as Okinawa and some isolated islands, where the annual minimum temperature does not fall below 63 degrees Fahrenheit (or 17 degrees Celsius), Jerusalem Artichokes may struggle to grow large and might not yield a harvest.
Equipment Needed
There are several items you will need to prepare when planting Jerusalem Artichokes. The essentials are:
- Land (or a planter)
- Vegetable potting soil (for planter cultivation)
- Seed potatoes (seedlings)
Jerusalem Artichoke seed potatoes are occasionally available in gardening shops. However, since they are not a common crop, you may not find them in stores near your home. If there are no sellers close by, consider purchasing online. Various vendors offer seed potatoes, so it’s recommended to buy from your favorite or a trustworthy shop.
If you have a plot of land or a field, you can certainly cultivate Jerusalem Artichokes directly in the ground. However, most people may not have such space, so preparing a planter for growing in your backyard or on your balcony is advisable. Jerusalem Artichokes grow large, and a small planter would be inadequate. Prepare a planter of at least 18” (or 15 gallons) for growing Jerusalem Artichokes – 16” is the bare minimum. Note that Jerusalem Artichokes can grow up to about 10 feet, so if your balcony isn’t very spacious, it’s best not to grow too many at once.
For cultivation in a planter, any vegetable potting soil will do. Jerusalem Artichokes don’t require much fertilizer, but adding a small amount of base fertilizer can enhance their growth.
How to Cultivate Jerusalem Artichokes
Jerusalem Artichokes are resistant to dryness and dislike humidity, so there is no need to water them aggressively. Ensure the soil is dry before watering. If you are cultivating outdoors, you can simply let the weather take care of the watering. As a basic guideline, plant one Jerusalem Artichoke per planter. Because they grow very well, planting several in one planter or planting at close intervals can obstruct the harvest and maintenance due to the leaves and stems. If you are growing them in the ground outdoors, please keep a minimum distance of 3 feet between each Jerusalem Artichoke, as they extend their leaves and stems up to about 1 to 2 feet in radius as they grow. Also, Jerusalem Artichokes have a very strong vitality and will grow even at the expense of other plants’ nutrients, so avoid planting them near other crops or trees.
The best place to plant is where there is plenty of sunlight. One of the main reasons is that Jerusalem Artichokes love sunlight, and if the sunlight is poor, the soil tends to stay moist, which is not conducive to delicious growth. Whether you are growing in the ground or in a planter, choose a spot with as much sunlight as possible.
If you plant Jerusalem Artichokes in spring, around April, sprouts will emerge in about 2 to 3 weeks. After planting, there’s no need to add further fertilizer beyond the base fertilizer, so just watch their progress while watering moderately. If all goes well, flowers will bloom around September. After the flowers have finished blooming, it’s harvest season, so until then, it would be good to prepare for an easier harvest by pruning any leaves and stems that have grown too much and are in the way.
Do Jerusalem Artichokes Need a Stake for Support as They Grow?
Jerusalem Artichokes are hardy and can grow without stakes. However, as they can grow up to 10 feet in height, without a stake, the leaves and stems may sprawl all over the ground. Furthermore, as the leaves thicken, sunlight may not reach the base of the plant. So, if possible, it’s better to use a stake.
A stake can also be beneficial in protecting the plant from strong winds, including typhoons. So, erect a stake and tie and secure the stem to it.
When to Harvest Jerusalem Artichokes
The harvest season for Jerusalem Artichokes is from November to March, after the flowers have finished blooming. When the temperature drops and vegetation begins to wither, cut the above-ground parts of the plant and prepare for harvesting. When digging up the Jerusalem Artichokes, use a shovel and carefully excavate to avoid damaging the tubers (the part that’s the Jerusalem Artichoke). As the tubers will regrow if left in the soil, be sure to harvest without leaving any behind.
Keep in mind that Jerusalem Artichokes don’t store well, so rather than harvesting a lot at once, only harvest what you need. If you harvest too many, they can be somewhat preserved by burying them back in the soil.
Large, appetizing Jerusalem Artichokes can be enjoyed in cooking, and smaller ones can be used as seed potatoes for the following year.
Important Points to Consider When Cultivating Jerusalem Artichokes
The most important point to be aware of when cultivating Jerusalem Artichokes, as mentioned before, is to avoid planting them together with other crops and to ensure that no tubers are left in the soil during harvest. Jerusalem Artichokes have a robust vitality and are recognized as invasive alien species. If they become wild and spread uncontrollably, they can outgrow home gardens and become difficult to manage. Please take responsibility and handle the cultivation and harvest carefully.
Furthermore, Jerusalem Artichokes are not suitable for continuous cropping. This is due to their strong vitality, as they deplete the nutrients in the soil. It is recommended to change the planting location each year or, if cultivating in planters, to replace the soil. If you decide to practice continuous cropping, you need to provide compost or organic matter to replenish the soil. However, it’s advisable to limit continuous cropping to a maximum of three years. Beyond that, the soil will become depleted, leading to crop rotation problems. Once the soil is depleted, it becomes difficult for other crops to grow, and the growth of Jerusalem Artichokes will also be adversely affected. Please take note of this.
Additionally, Jerusalem Artichokes are not well-suited for long-term storage. Therefore, I have compiled some recommended methods for preserving the harvest:
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Preserve with Confidence: Top 5 Techniques to Safeguard Your Jerusalem Artichokes from Spoilage
Lastly, if you are unable to harvest Jerusalem Artichokes, there are also recommended products such as Jerusalem Artichoke supplements or Jerusalem Artichoke powder. These are perfect for those who are short on time but still want to conveniently supplement their diet with Jerusalem Artichoke’s inulin.