Jerusalem Artichokes

This root vegetable - related to Sunflowers - deserves wider popularity.

I bought some from a market stall and have set aside a couple of tubers to grow (they are started in a similar way to potatoes).

I've grown Jerusalem artichokes before, so I know they'll be tall - I'm planting them at the back of the plot - against the fence.

I dug holes about 8 inches deep and placed them in the bottom, then covered the up again.

16 May 2010 - it may not look like much, but these furry little shoots are the artichoke sprouts emerging from the soil.

They took their time - I was starting to wonder if they would show at all.

By mid-July, the plants are nearly 6 feet tall.

We had some really high winds the day before this photo - and the plants have been quite battered, but the seem to be recovering OK.