Growing Jerusalem Artichoke in Australia: The Complete Guide
Jerusalem Artichoke is an easy (can be invasive) root vegetable to grow, needing full sun with low–moderate watering.
Jerusalem Artichoke is one of the easy (can be invasive) additions to a home garden, and this article walks through everything behind our one-page printable guide in a bit more depth.
Contain it — it spreads
This towering sunflower relative produces tubers so readily that any missed at harvest will resprout next year. Grow it in a dedicated, contained bed.
Getting Jerusalem Artichoke Into the Ground
Method — plant tubers like seed potatoes; any small piece with a bud will grow. Soil — tolerates poor soil; free-draining preferred. Timing — plant in early spring.
Day-to-Day Care
Keep these points in mind:
- Water while establishing; drought-tolerant once tall.
- Stake or shelter in windy spots — plants reach 2–3m.
- Contain the bed — every missed tuber regrows next season.
- Cut stalks back once they yellow in autumn.
What Can Go Wrong
Worth paying attention to:
- Spreading beyond bounds — the main issue; harvest thoroughly and contain the bed.
- Powdery mildew — late season on leaves; largely cosmetic.
- Slugs — on young shoots; hand-pick.
- Wind damage — tall stalks can topple; stake if exposed.
Harvest and Storage
Signs — after stalks die back in autumn/winter. Method — fork carefully — tubers are knobbly and scatter widely. Curing — none needed. Storage — best left in the ground and dug as needed; stored tubers dry out quickly.
For the condensed, printable version of everything above, head to the main jerusalem artichoke guide page.