Jerusalem Artichokes

Shipped in late April/early May for Spring planting.

Hands up... who knows what Jerusalem artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus), "j-chokes" or "sunchokes" are?  Originating in North America, this perennial relative of the sunflower has nothing to do with the holy city of Jerusalem.  The Jerusalem" is likely a corruption of the Italian work girasole or sunflower and "artichoke" may be indicative of its similarity in taste to real artichokes, although not everyone would agree.  The North American natives wild-collected and cultivated thses tubers extensively and ate them boiled, roasted, or sometimes raw.  The natives introduced them to the early settlers and they were taken back to Europe around the 16th century where they were more popular than potatoes for quite some time.

This is an extrememly attractive addition to the garden.  Plants have deep green lancelolate foliage with 3" bright yellow, single sunflowers and can reach 10' in height making an instant living fence.   Much like potatoes, sunchokes are grown by planting peices of the tubers (with at least one eye) in the Spring.  Plant your peices 14-18" apart, and really, there's not much to do after that!  Sunchokes like to spread, often given the "invasive" label, so best to find an area where they can roam free or be easily controlled.  Annual harvesting and re-planting helps with this issue.  

I usually harvest either in the late fall after frost has hit the plants a couple of times, or in the Spring once the soil can be dug as a refreshing treat after a winter of eating potatoes.  J-chokes are known for their high inulin content, which is a great thing for folks who have trouble controlling their blood sugar levels (i.e. diabetics).  A suitable substitute for other starchy foods, such as potatoes or pasta, which may cause people problems.

A note on orders:  Your Jerusalem artichokes are tucked away for winter, resting in the garden soil under a thick (and I mean that!) blanket of snow.  Once the ground thaws, we'll be digging and shipping.  We'll be shipping your Jerusalem artichokes right when you need them for planting, in the end of April / early May.  If you should need your supply at a different time, please get in touch and we'll try to make arrangements.  Jerusalem artichokes  (along with garlic and seed potatoes) are tax exempt (right on!), but do cost extra to ship (sigh...).  Please add a $2.00 shipping surcharge in addition to regular shipping charges to your order for the first 3 lb., $3.00 for orders over 3 lb.  Thanks!  

A note to international customers:  You guessed it - we can't ship it.  Sorry, but Hope Seeds does not send potatoes, garlic or Jersualem artichokes over the border.

JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE - Stampede SOLD OUT FOR 2008! This is a common variety with yellow skin and white, crisp flesh. Tubers are not that knobby in the first couple of seasons, which makes them great to work with in the kitchen (especially if you're big on peeling your veggies). Product code: 7050 Price: 1 lb = $8.00, 3 lb = $20.00