Growing sunchokes
Posted: Sat 08-Jan-2022, 11:25
We've been growing this earthy tasting, tuberous plant for years. It's easy to grow. Here are some things to know about sunchokes:
1) Tough plant and cold tolerant. It can easily withstand the coldest winters in our area. If you live in colder climates protect with thick mulch layer.
2) Tuberous root is the edible part. Harvest in October -- March. Stores well underground and harvest as needed.
3) You can plant a single chunk of root in the spring and it'll grow up to 4 meters tall by the fall.
4) It falls over in the wind so we grow it along a fence line and tie it up.
5) Loves to be mulched thickly with woodchips and compost. Tuber can push through 6" of mulch.
6) It can get away on you so I recommend harvesting the entire plant every year and replanting a single piece to keep it contained.
7) If you can buy it at a local market, plant it in your garden.
8) Plant sunchokes along weedy fence lines and you'll discover that it'll quickly shade out weeds.
1) Tough plant and cold tolerant. It can easily withstand the coldest winters in our area. If you live in colder climates protect with thick mulch layer.
2) Tuberous root is the edible part. Harvest in October -- March. Stores well underground and harvest as needed.
3) You can plant a single chunk of root in the spring and it'll grow up to 4 meters tall by the fall.
4) It falls over in the wind so we grow it along a fence line and tie it up.
5) Loves to be mulched thickly with woodchips and compost. Tuber can push through 6" of mulch.
6) It can get away on you so I recommend harvesting the entire plant every year and replanting a single piece to keep it contained.
7) If you can buy it at a local market, plant it in your garden.
8) Plant sunchokes along weedy fence lines and you'll discover that it'll quickly shade out weeds.