A hardy, widely adapted perennial, Jerusalem artichokes grow best in
well-drained soil with a near-neutral pH of about 7.0. Locate your crop
in full sun but behind smaller vegetables, because the 10-foot-tall
plants cast ample afternoon shade. A 5-by-5-foot bed (located outside
the garden, where its perimeter can be easily mowed) is ideal for this
exuberant crop. A 25-square-foot planting can produce more than 100
pounds of harvested tubers.
Plant small, whole tubers in early spring, or as late as you’d plant
tomatoes. To get Jerusalem artichokes with big roots, give plants the
longest growing season possible. After the first year, small tubers you
missed while harvesting will usually shoot up sufficient plants to form a
good crop.
