[twitch68]

 I have read that jerusalem artichokes are good to grow as they help break up the soil,however I have never seen them in the  shops [do they sell them in the suoermarkets?] and while I'm all for trying something new especially if it is good for the soil the only pictures I've seen are of unattractive stubby roots a bit like pigs feet!!,what I'm trying to ask is what do they taste like and how do you cook and prep the things.Also do they shade out other plants as they seem to grow quite tall,could I grow them near sweetcorn for example?.Thanks in advance.

[arugula]

They have a distinctive flavour, some would describe as nutty, not palatable to everyone. Personally I love them roasted with your potatoes, as soup or even raw, to name but a few ways to eat them.

[Kleftiwallah]

They are usually grown and stay in the same area of soil and are dug up as required duriong the winter months.

The variety Feuseau are not particularly knobbly.  Usually not available in S.Markets.

They have a sweet nutty taste, preped by scraping underwater,  
Great in stews, roasted with Sunday dinner or mashed up along with the spuds.

They are a member of the sunflower family and can grow to 7 feet, dying down each winter but leaving stalks.

Jerusalem is a misspelling of 'Jerrasol', something to do with the sun I think.

They are very invasive and spread easily.

Go for it.

Cheers,   Tony.

[Nikkithefoot]

JA's are exactly like potatoes when used 'to break up the ground' It is your digging to prep the soil, add manure and digging again to lift the tubers that does the breaking up of the ground, not the growth of the tubers themselves.

That said they are delicious, particularly in soup IMHO. They are very invasive; I planted 6 tubers 5 years ago and have never replanted since.

BTW they do have errrrrr side effects 

[mumofstig]

BTW they do have errrrrr side effects   

Indeed they're not called Fartichokes for nothing 

[SnooziSuzi]

I've had a patch about 4 square feet of them for the last 2 years in my lotty and even though I didn't lift any last year they haven't spread at all. 

I had all but forgotten about them because they're in the hen run and the chooks like to hide in the foliage!

[A. Fallowfield]

I had some this year only because I didn't get them all out the year before!
I like them roasted, but the "side effects" are so drastic for me that I daren't touch them!

[willp]

Delicious!

This recipe is a particular favourite:

http://www.rivercottage.net/recipes/jerusalem-artichoke-and-nettle-gratin


Will

[twitch68]

 Thanks everyone for the replies,will give them a go next to the sweetcorn and by the compost bin,not sure the kids will be ecstatic about eating them but then again they baulk at carrots and broccoli  and as for the side effects regarding wind,if I smuggle them into the mash then we'll all be in the same boat and should guarentee me a seat to myself on the train in the morning.

[Ema]

apparently cooking them with winter savory stops the fartichoke effect

[thestens]

A must to have in any allotment. Tasty, versatile and little to no maintainance. One of my favourites.

[Nikkithefoot]

I must admit the windy side effects seem reduced if the JA's skins are removed either by peeling before cooking or discarding after cooking. A lot of flavour also goes though.

[BabbyAnn]

not sure the kids will be ecstatic about eating them

peel, slice and deep fat fry until golden brown ... I'd be surprised if they don't like them (just don't tell them what they are and they may think they are eating chips)

I've had a patch about 4 square feet of them for the last 2 years in my lotty and even though I didn't lift any last year they haven't spread at all. 

I'm not sure where the "spreading" myth came from as I've not this to be a problem either, but it is more likely that not all the tubers were lifted from a bed that was later used for something else, and rogue ones have grown again.  Be aware that if you don't thin out the tubers, they subsequently get smaller with overcrowding and reduced soil nutrients.

[Jamrock]

Mine this year grew to nearly 10 feet tall so be aware of this if planting close to something else. I have many still in the ground now

From what I have harvested so far I had roasted them (skins on), par-boiled and fried them with lashings of garlic and seasoning and also made a cheesy gratin with them.

Mine were planted in Feb and other than cutting down the foliage in October I havent touched them. Very low maintenance

[shaun]

They make great chips ,and they make my little tummy rumble