[Flump]

How do you know when Jerusalem artichokes are ready?mine were on the plot when I got it and I can't get rid of them!

[BabbyAnn]

JAs flower round about September then they start to die back after the frosts - that's when the tubers are big enough to dig up/eat    It is not unusual for smaller tubers to get missed and come up again the following year.

[arugula]

If the foliage is still green and I would expect it to be so in July, they are not ready.They are normally only harvested from autumn onwards. More info here:

http://www.allotment-garden.org/grow-your-own/vegetables/jerusalem-artichokes

[Flump]

Thanks!

[Kleftiwallah]

We have moved our jerusalem artichoke patch three times in the time we have had the allotment.  Just a case of digging up as many as you can then keep pulling the new shoots as they show through,

tip
it is better to let them get to about a foot high then the tuber (should) come  up with them.  Any smaller and the stalk breaks, leaving the tuber to sprout again.

Cheers,    Tony.

[Madame Cholet]

yes ther say grow them in a perminant bed I'm trying them as a wind break in my borders as we are on the top af a hill. I have a boundary border and one neighbour hasn't touched his plot its like a hay meadow the seem to be ok. Also trying to gro some beans up them if any servive the slugs.

[Kirpi]

"Wind break" oh dear!! Ha Ha!

Sorry, I'll get my coat ...