[Thephoenix572]

With being new to the allotment game I've planted lots of everything and one of those is Jerusalem Artichokes. Put a couple in about six weeks ago and one is about a foot tall the other slightly less.  Do I need to feed them at all or is it just water every so often?  I did plant with home made manure and poultry fertiliser

[Yorkie]

I think these are completely indestructible so what you've done is probably OK

[Thephoenix572]

Thanks for the advice

[Kristen]

I ignore mine completely and they grow like weeds! ... so anything you do to help them will be just fine I'm sure

[shokkyy]

I don't think I've ever eaten Jerusalem artichokes - what do they taste like?

[SnooziSuzi]

shokkyy; I'd describe JA's as a cross between a turnip, potato and parsnip.  they're lovely

I too just leave mine to fend for themselves until harvest time.  I have read that if you cut off the flowers they will produce larger tubers, but personally I haven't found any difference and so I leave the flowers on for the bees :happy:

[Robster]

Same as everyone.  I put them in and leave them.  A bit of growmore at planting time.  We are a family of four and six plants is plenty, with extra to give away.  Everyone loves them but you can have only so much jerusalem artichoke gratin.

[Charl89]

when i took over my allotment the last person left all his in the ground. its taken me 2 weeks to get them all out and they are still coming up. i think they are worse than spuds!

i never want to see an artichoke again in my life lol.

good luck in growing, people keep telling me its a required taste only a few like.

[Kleftiwallah]

Isn't anyone going to tell Theph' about 'the side effects' of artichoke eating ? ? ? ?   Or should we keep it a seeeekrit ?    Cheers,   Tony.









Edit: change colour from pale pink to black so we can read it.

[Yorkie]

I don't think we want to trump his achievements to date 

[Nige2Plots]

I don't think we want to trump his achievements to date 

Answer
As the song goes........" The answer my friend is..........."

[hightide]

when i took over my allotment the last person left all his in the ground. its taken me 2 weeks to get them all out and they are still coming up. i think they are worse than spuds!

You have done everything right and as the man says make sure you dig up all of them at harvest then dig again to remove the ones you were sure wern't there. When you have got your harvest what to do with them?

Boiled; you need to add lemon juice otherwise they will turn black - disgusting

Roasted; horrible mush

Deep fried; chewy

Soup; gourmet dish, crumble some stilton over just before serving - sublime


edited to clarify quote - Yorkie

[Lardman]

4 seasons ago I planted 5 tubers here. 

I've been trying to get rid of them ever since.       

[Robster]

I moved mine to a different patch this year and they are about 2-3 feet tall at the moment.  I thought I had got them all out of the ir previous home, but I am still pulling up the shoots as they appear.  It's not too much of a chore.  I am hoping to starve them out

[Thephoenix572]

They sound a bit like dandelions then, indestructable and always around