Tommymoo's Garden
Jerusalem Artichoke 'Fuseau'
Genus: Helianthus.
Species: Helianthus tuberosus.
24 Jan 2011, from ebay. 5 tubers GBP 2.50 + postage 1.99 = 4.49 (US$7.36)
May (?) 2018
3 seedlings in pot given by Mee.
They all flowered late summer.
The 'Fuseau' variety on offer here produces smooth good size tubers and are easy to prepare (as opposed to the knobbly varieties).
Often grown as a windbreak the plants can reach over 2 metres in height. They do need plenty of light and are best planted in a well drained soil which has been improved with some well rotted manure. Harvest in the late autumn through to early spring. Best left in the ground until needed, they can also be stored in a fridge for up to 2 weeks.
They are grown in the same spot each year, for if you miss a tuber it will grow like a volunteer potato, so prepare the ground well with plenty of manure which you can top up as a mulch in winter.
Be careful where you site them, the foliage easily reaches 2 metres and 2.4 metres is common. They stems are quite fragile and you will need to provide support with stakes and string in windy locations.
Plant individual tubers about 40 to 60cm apart around 12cm deep in early spring and in a few weeks the shoots will appear. If you have more than one row, allow 75cm between rows. When they reach about 30cm high, earth up a little as for potatoes.
