My Garden

Jerusalem Artichokes

Last post 10-11-2009 2:11 PM by catymck. 5 replies.

• 06/11/2009 03:23 PM
  catymck Location: surrey Joined on: 12 Mar 2009 Posts: 40	Reply | Contact You may remember I asked about removing the flowers from my artichioke plants - well I brought some inside and they were rather pretty but only lasted a couple of days! But my real question is - how do you know when the artichikes are ready - some of the stems on mine have started to die - does that mean it's time to get digging? May thanks

• 06/11/2009 04:30 PM	In reply to
  NickR Location: Harrow, Middlesex Joined on: 05 Oct 2009 Posts: 26	Reply | Contact Hello, I think once the leaves on your Jerusalem Artichokes begin to yellow then thats the time to harvest your crop. I've also heard that a good idea is when you cut the stems (once you have yellowing leaves) you can lay them over the plants as this will help when harvesting your crop as it keeps the soil warm underneath. I hope this helps a little, Nick

• 06/11/2009 05:19 PM	In reply to
  bogweevil Location: Joined on: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 2,043	Reply | Contact Take your trowel and have a look... The tubers form from late summer but the full swelling does not occur until the foliage and stems die back, but if you hanker after a dish of artichokes before then there no reason not to partake - most people have more artichokes than they can easily use so there is no need to hang on for the mostest.   Boggy Beware the bat-eared bogweevil

• 09/11/2009 03:20 PM	In reply to
  catymck Location: surrey Joined on: 12 Mar 2009 Posts: 40	Reply | Contact Thanks for this - I took my trowel and dug up some beauties - big and white and not very knobbly at all - success at last! I assume from what Nick says that artichokes can be left in the ground for some time until actually needed, like parsnips?

• 10/11/2009 08:41 AM

  In reply to

  EvaInNL Location: Holland Joined on: 25 Sep 2009 Posts: 59

  Reply | Contact They can indeed be left in the ground and dug up when you need them. If you run the risk of the ground freezing up you can, as Nick suggested, cover it with leaves or mulch to prevent damaging the tubers when you dig them up. Frost/freezing doesn't affect the tubers in any way. Leave the smaller tubers in the ground so that you have new plants from them next year. PS: Be prepared for the side effects of the artichokes and leave a window open! Ill winds will blow...

• 10/11/2009 02:11 PM	In reply to
  catymck Location: surrey Joined on: 12 Mar 2009 Posts: 40	Reply | Contact Thanks for this - plenty of fresh air is the answer!