The Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) is an under-the-radar edible plant that can give you great food and incredible flowers. I was first introduced to the J. Artichoke when I shopped at the farmers market at Union Square (NYC) on Saturday mornings. Don’t let the name foul you. It neither has anything to do with the Holy Land nor is it actually a type of artichoke. It, like the tomato and potato, originates from the New World not Europe, but has become a cornerstone in countries like France, Italy and Russia. The Jerusalem artichoke is a North American original that was cultivated by Native Americans in the Great Plains and, then moved eastward. Stories persist of Lewis and Clark eating them for meals prepared by native women in North Dakota. If you really want to know the etymology of the plant's name (Jerusalem Artichoke), you have to learn a little Italian.
Photo by Paul Fenwick
Besides the interesting and strange path of the vegetable’s name and origin, it is the distant cousin of the daisy. A patch of H. tubersus will add color to any yard. It has flowers that can grow as tall as 9 to 10 ft and can be as dense as a field of sunflowers. The flowers are big and yellow with the leaves large and green. They can form dense areas of flowers with the prise of tasty roots just underground. But, the Jerusalem artichoke is not maintenance-free. Be forewarned, you will have to keep them tamed. They are quite aggressive, and considered a weed by some.
If you want to eat them for years to come, you need to replenish the soil annually, or dig them up and move them to new soil. If you leave any of the tubers are left, they can overtake big parts of your garden or beds. It's not easy to remove all of the roots, so prepare the area(s) you plan to use for them. They are not shade tolerate, so full sun is required.
If you want to eat them for years to come, you need to replenish the soil annually, or dig them up and move them to new soil. If you leave any of the tubers are left, they can overtake big parts of your garden or beds. It's not easy to remove all of the roots, so prepare the area(s) you plan to use for them. They are not shade tolerate, so full sun is required.
What to Eat
Though they can be a bit of a pain to control, the plant offers a tasty bounty. You can dig them up and eat the root raw. You can cook them too. A little salt is all it really needs. They have a nutty taste. They are great for stews, a garish or as a side for a meal. The last thing I should mention is that if you fest on them, you might have a bit of wind afterwards, so just FYI. This can come in handle if you want to have a laugh post-dinner.
Though they can be a bit of a pain to control, the plant offers a tasty bounty. You can dig them up and eat the root raw. You can cook them too. A little salt is all it really needs. They have a nutty taste. They are great for stews, a garish or as a side for a meal. The last thing I should mention is that if you fest on them, you might have a bit of wind afterwards, so just FYI. This can come in handle if you want to have a laugh post-dinner.
RSS Feed