[Anton]

Hullo fellow gardeners.
I planted some JAs this year and eventually (after lying skulking in the ground), they eventually grew to a fine height. The years before we had grown sunflowers as a kind of barrier from the street (for the wind, etc.) but the JAs did an excellent job as well as the flowers were really lovely. The only problem was I did not realise that they would grow so high so I should have put in some stakes from from the start.

I am not terribly keen on eating JAs and so my question is if I leave them in the ground will they kind of spread, like weeds,  so that I have more plants coming up than this year?

Anton

[Mr Dog]

Oh yes.......

[millimole]

JAs are thugs and once in the ground will keep coming up, even years after you thought you had removed the last trace.
Don't ask how I know that!

[Anton]

Thanks for your answers. But I mean, I put in about 10 plants, six of which came up. Do they propagate and so I will have a larger number of plants?

Anton

[Mr Dog]

Thanks for your answers. But I mean, I put in about 10 plants, six of which came up. Do they propagate and so I will have a larger number of plants?

Anton

Yes you'll get many more - each tuber that has developed will produce a plant. I grow them in large tubs to keep them under control.

[Anton]

Thanks a lot.  I am growing them as a barrrier so if they produce more plants that will suit me fine .

Anton

[Anton]

On second thoughts, how many tubers does one plant produce and would it not be better to dig them up and then just put back some of the tubers?

Anton

[Aidy]

On second thoughts, how many tubers does one plant produce and would it not be better to dig them up and then just put back some of the tubers?

Anton

Yea but like spuds you will always have some missed! They are good for people who are diabetic so ask around you may be able to give some tubers away. Like has been said once in they stay in. Good luck

[AlaninCarlisle]

Hideous things. They are virtually indestructible and indigestible. Not without reason are they known a fartichokess

[noshed]

I got JAs by accident. They grow like weeds, as everybody says, and they don't taste great. Apart from that, they're fine.

[rowlandwells]

we had a lovely crop JAs unfortunately the badgers beat us to the harvest not one left in the ground so we didn't bother to replant new

so I don't know how to cook them or what they taste like if I remember they had a yellow flower on a tall plant is that rite not going to grow anymore until I'm satisfied they will be worth growing as a veg I note your replies Fartichokes  Hideous  things and thugs not to mention indigestible is a bit of putting 

[robinahood]

We both like the taste, and they don't have the unfortunate effect on everyone's digestion, neither of us are affected that way. 

[Mr Dog]

Lovely roasted, as alternative 'chips' and in carrot and artichoke soup.

As often's the case, one man's meat......

[Plot 1 Problems]

A neighbouring plot holder donated some for us to try last summer. The wife had no problems, but I had to go for a long walk after, accompanied a sound not unlike the theme from Johnny Briggs

[AlaninCarlisle]

I wish I could donate mine. They've been in for about ten years and despite various attempts at eradicating them, they now occupy a 6 x 2 metre area.
Note to myself: Get at them with glyphosate as soon as they show themselves this spring and keep on doing it until they learn the lesson!