Perennials Sunchokes, yum!

[bbbuddy]

Last year I planted a 4x20 foot bed with 50 sunchokes. We've been eating them in place of potatoes all winter. I just go out and dig up a couple plants and the soil around them and get 4-5 lbs in a few minutes. Wash the dirt away using a strainer and bring them into the kitchen.

I put them in a shopping bag with some wet paper towel, and they go into the fridge. They last a few weeks that way.
My favorite easiest way to cook them is to scrub, slice, and boil for about 20-30 minutes. Drain, toss with butter, salt, and a seasoning called Potato Slayer. It's quite a yummy dish.

If you eat sunchokes with regularity, your body gets used to them, and the "fartiness" goes away, just like with Beans.

I haven't even got through 1/2 the bed yet.

Oh, you can ferment them too, just like making sauerkraut. Then store in the jars.

I think the sunchokes are the easiest high yielding plant to grow, and the stems and leaves are very high in protein and can be fed to the animals, as well as the chokes.

 

[West]

Last year I planted a 4x20 foot bed with 50 sunchokes. We've been eating them in place of potatoes all winter. I just go out and dig up a couple plants and the soil around them and get 4-5 lbs in a few minutes. Wash the dirt away using a strainer and bring them into the kitchen.

I put them in a shopping bag with some wet paper towel, and they go into the fridge. They last a few weeks that way.
My favorite way to cook them is to scrub, slice, and boil for about 20-30 minutes. Drain, toss with butter, salt, and a seasoning called Potato Slayer. It's quite a yummy dish.

If you eat sunchokes with regularity, your body gets used to them, and the "fartiness" goes away, just like with Beans.

I haven't even got through 1/2 the bed yet.

Oh, you can ferment them too, just like making sauerkraut. Then store in the jars.

I think the sunchokes are the easiest plant to grow, and the stems and leaves are very high in protein and can be fed to the animals, as well as the chokes.

Also known as Jerusalem artichoke?

Jerusalem artichoke - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Kathy in FL]

Also known as Jerusalem artichoke?

Jerusalem artichoke - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Yes, same plant. You can buy them in some fresh groceries. I did that hoping to have a bed of them but the armadillos stole them. I replanted in a supposedly dillo-proof bed and it was the moles that stole them. Once I got that fixed it was the nematodes.

I'm going to try to mole proof a bed at our N FL BOL and see how that goes. How these things survive in the wild with everything and their mother out to eat them leaves me clueless.

 

[kyrsyan]

I planted some last year. I'm hoping they come back. They are a good replacement for potatoes for those of us who need to watch our blood sugar levels.

 

[bbbuddy]

I think they are native to the north east. Kathy you may be battling against mother nature down there.
I hope you can overcome, because it seems like a good food for diabetics!

Out here we have no moles but the rabbits were attracted to them. We put some chicken wire around the bed and that was enough to protect them.
We've had a very mild winter and the ones I dug up last week had little rootlets on them and trying to sprout. So I need to get the rest dug up and save a bunch for replanting, fermenting, freezing, and feeding to the pigs and goats. They don't produce as much if too crowded so just letting a bed alone gets you less than digging and replanting more spaced out.

I don't have to worry about them spreading because nothing grows without being watered, lol. They'll stay where irrigated. They were so successful I ordered 4 pounds more of a different variety to make another bed. Next winter I can be profligate with feeding to the critters!

When eaten raw they remind me of jicama, or radishes without the tang. Perfect to add some crunch in a dish!

 

[summerthyme]

They grow as weeds around here. Two things I won't transplant to our land... sunchokes and Japanese knotweed!

Summerthyme

 

[Kathy in FL]

I think they are native to the north east. Kathy you may be battling against mother nature down there.
I hope you can overcome, because it seems like a good food for diabetics!

Out here we have no moles but the rabbits were attracted to them. We put some chicken wire around the bed and that was enough to protect them.
We've had a very mild winter and the ones I dug up last week had little rootlets on them and trying to sprout. So I need to get the rest dug up and save a bunch for replanting, fermenting, freezing, and feeding to the pigs and goats. They don't produce as much if too crowded so just letting a bed alone gets you less than digging and replanting more spaced out.

I don't have to worry about them spreading because nothing grows without being watered, lol. They'll stay where irrigated. They were so successful I ordered 4 pounds more of a different variety to make another bed. Next winter I can be profligate with feeding to the critters!

When eaten raw they remind me of jicama, or radishes without the tang. Perfect to add some crunch in a dish!

They grown in western TN and western KY. I'm hoping that means they grow well in N FL. What I may have to do is put them in the orchard in a half-barrel where they can be hit by the sprinkler system I have on a timer. I'll just need to find something that keeps the deer out of them.

They should grow here (west central FL) but I may have to have them in containers instead of the ground. And find their optimal growing season. We can grow potatoes (in containers) and we had some upick farms that grew small fields of them, so I think they can grow here ... just battling natural predators like the stupid 'dillos and moles.

 

[styerscout308]

Any varietal recommendations for 1) pnw, north of Roseburg Oregon? ( moderate climate with dry summer, wet winter) And 2), for the Bozeman Montana area (short growing season)?
And cost-effective source for quantity purchase?

 

[summerthyme]

Judging only from my observations of where they grow in the wild, they do best with plenty of moisture, but in well drained soils. If you've got sandy soil, add plenty of compost and organic matter.

Summerthyme

 

[summerthyme]

Any varietal recommendations for 1) pnw, north of Roseburg Oregon? ( moderate climate with dry summer, wet winter) And 2), for the Bozeman Montana area (short growing season)?
And cost-effective source for quantity purchase?

I wouldn't worry about "quantity purchase"! These things spread like wildfire in suitable locations. And personally, I dont feel their nutritional profile justifies fiddling with trying to grow them in conditions they don't like.

Aside from their low glycemic index (useful for diabetics), their main benefit (or drawback, for some men with issues with high iron) is a significant iron content. Could be useful if meat is hard to get.

Summerthyme

 

[kyrsyan]

The warning I was given - they like to spread. So put them in an area where you are willing to mow to keep them under control. Or in tall containers with mats or trays underneath to keep them from shooting roots out.

 

[Walrus]

Friends call them fartichokes but I like them. Rabbits and chickens like the leaves and stems as well.

 

[bbbuddy]

Any varietal recommendations for 1) pnw, north of Roseburg Oregon? ( moderate climate with dry summer, wet winter) And 2), for the Bozeman Montana area (short growing season)?
And cost-effective source for quantity purchase?

While there are "varieties" they mostly are chosen based on how few knobs they have. I think they would grow well in Montana, but the best way to store them in bulk is in the ground, so you would have to heavy heavy mulch to be able to dig them in the winter. Maybe no much is enough to keep the ground from freezing.
Once dug, they don't keep fresh long term. You can pressure can, ferment, pickle, and maybe freeze after cooking?
They are available on Amazon, ebay, etc.
The one I just bought on Amazon are these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTBPVVY?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

They aren't selling as a named variety but they look like Red Fuseau.

 

[Kathy in FL]

They grow as weeds around here. Two things I won't transplant to our land... sunchokes and Japanese knotweed!

Summerthyme

You can eat the new shoots of Japanese knot weed. I figure at some point we'll need to find a way to eat most of the invasive species ... kudzu, knotweed, etc ... or they are going to become a real problem.

 

[summerthyme]

You can eat the new shoots of Japanese knot weed. I figure at some point we'll need to find a way to eat most of the invasive species ... kudzu, knotweed, etc ... or they are going to become a real problem.

Oh, Japanese knotweed is amazingly valuable! DS apparently cured his pastured hogs of acute Lyme disease ( at least, their symptoms all disappeared) by trucking them to a neighbor's pasture which is overrun with the stuff! I knew it was a potent antiviral, but never knew it had antibiotic properties.

But it can literally take over acres of ground, and it's not a preferred pasture plant for cattle and horses.

Summerthyme

 

[bbbuddy]

Macronutrients and Calories​

• Calories: Jerusalem artichokes contain slightly more calories than potatoes.
• Protein: They have a higher protein content compared to potatoes.
• Fat: Both are low in fat, with similar minimal amounts.
• Carbohydrate: Potatoes have a higher carbohydrate content, mainly from starch.
• Fiber: Jerusalem artichokes are a very good source of fiber.

Vitamin and Mineral Content​

• Vitamin C: Potatoes are richer in vitamin C.
• Vitamin B6: Potatoes also have higher levels of vitamin B6.
• Vitamin A: Jerusalem artichokes contain more vitamin A, although in small amounts.
• Vitamin E: They also provide significantly more vitamin E.
• Iron: Jerusalem artichokes are a better source of iron.
• Calcium: They have a higher calcium content than potatoes.
• Potassium: Both are good sources, with Jerusalem artichokes slightly ahead.

Glycemic Index​

• Glycemic Index: Potatoes typically have a higher glycemic index than Jerusalem artichokes, meaning they may raise blood sugar levels more quickly.

When comparing the health impacts of Jerusalem artichokes and potatoes, it’s important to note how they can affect blood sugar regulation, dietary fiber intake, and potential allergies. Each plays a distinct role in your overall well-being.

Blood Sugar Regulation​

Jerusalem artichokes contain inulin, a type of soluble dietary fiber. Inulin is known for its ability to help regulate blood sugar levels because it is digested slowly, leading to a minimal impact on blood sugar. Potatoes, on the other hand, have a higher glycemic index, which means they can cause faster spikes in your blood sugar levels.

Jerusalem Artichoke vs Potato

As you explore the world of root vegetables, you'll likely come across the Jerusalem artichoke and the potato, two staples with distinct nutritional profiles. The Jerusalem artichoke, also known as the sunchoke, offers a different

thekitchencommunity.org

 

[Jeepcats27]

is there any variety of the Jerusalem artichoke that tastes better than others? I've never tried them and don't want to waste my limited space on something that does not taste good?

 

[Kathy in FL]

is there any variety of the Jerusalem artichoke that tastes better than others? I've never tried them and don't want to waste my limited space on something that does not taste good?

I don't know that I've had a "variety" but like most foraged and "natural foods" how they taste really depends on how they are cooked and what they are cooked with. I prefer them fried like homefries done up in bacon grease or real butter until they get just a little crisp on them.

 

[West]

Another real beauty I see in them as a survivalist food. Plant them in areas wild sunflower are prevalent. In Oklahoma we have dozens of wild varieties of sunflower, most are weeds.

Vary few would know what to look for. Hide some of your food in plain sight.

 

[ShadowMan]

Just received my order of Sunchoke bulb starts. Not sure how well they will do here on our mountain at 5,600ft, it's considered Zone 8A. I'll have to grow them in a raised bed. Most of our soil here is decomposing granite and gophers are the scourge for gardeners here. How deep do the roots and bulbs grow?

I also ordered American Ground Nuts, the Apios americana Hopniss variety, that I was thinking of planting with the Jerusalem Artichokes (sunchokes).

Working on creating an edible forest permaculture area on our property by incorporating as many native edible species as possible.

 

[bbbuddy]

How deep do the roots and bulbs grow?

Mine seem to be no deeper than 14 inches, but that's how deep I dug the bed. I think most of them are at about 12 inches.
To plant, first I dug up the bed with the backhoe on my tractor, sifted through the dirt for the bigger rocks, then added a load of rabbit manure and mixed it in.

We're at 5400 feet, zone 6b (now zone 7). Dry summers so I put in drip lines to irrigate.

I have been digging them up with a spading fork. We cut off all the withered tops last fall to about 12 inches.

The ground is hard like caliche below what I dug in that area. It's funny, a few hundred feet away you can dig 6 feet deep easily.



Good luck!

 

[bbbuddy]

While there are "varieties" they mostly are chosen based on how few knobs they have. I think they would grow well in Montana, but the best way to store them in bulk is in the ground, so you would have to heavy heavy mulch to be able to dig them in the winter. Maybe no much is enough to keep the ground from freezing.
Once dug, they don't keep fresh long term. You can pressure can, ferment, pickle, and maybe freeze after cooking?
They are available on Amazon, ebay, etc.
The one I just bought on Amazon are these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTBPVVY?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

They aren't selling as a named variety but they look like Red Fuseau.

Ok, these from Amazon came in VERY knobby and white. Nothing like the picture. I'm feeding them to the critters.
The one I already have are far better.

I just dug up about a 4x4 patch and filled a 5 gallon bucket. We have had a mild winter and early spring so they are sprouting and rooting but are still hard and edible. Definately fill a niche in that "starvation spring" scenario...

I'll be going to town next week if anybody wants some I'll mail them out.

 

[kyrsyan]

I might be interested. This weekend I'll look to see if mine survived.

 

[moldy]

Me, too - me, too! I haven't tried planting them, but have a couple perfect spots.

 

[Toosh]

I must do something wrong. My chokes are about the size of my thumb. Too small to waste time with. I got all day, full sun. More fertilizer, maybe?

 

[philkar]

Oh my goodness! In'22 I just threw the chokes in the ground 4 inches deep and never did a thing to them. They were in direct sun in the South! No irrigation just weeded on occasion! I was rewarded with 12 foot plants that flowered most of the summer. They were lovely up against the sugar cane! Moved them last year and had similar results. My conclusion? Just leave them alone!! I sauté them in butter and like some of you left them in the ground year round digging when I needed them.

 

[bbbuddy]

Me, too - me, too! I haven't tried planting them, but have a couple perfect spooops

Will send this week

 

[bbbuddy]

I must do something wrong. My chokes are about the size of my thumb. Too small to waste time with. I got all day, full sun. More fertilizer, maybe?

They need some water. I put mine on drip lines, turn on a couple times a week for a bit.
Never hurts to add fertilizer. I just used rabbit manure.

Thumb size is edible! You can eat them raw, boiled, sautéed, roasted, mashed, pickled.

Replant what you have left and try again!