Sunchokes/jerusalem artichokes

[mensplace]

I have checked every possible grocery chain around here with no luck in finding Jerusalem artichokes. Then I checked online for them and the prices, especially when combined with shipping were insane. They produce so many tubers I can't believe they are no longer widely available or so costly. I used to have them elsewhere and loved the flavor and the flowers.

[GrowingCoastal]

Keep watching the produce sections. I think their season is just coming up. I managed to get a few here that way a few years ago.

[Old chef]

The season starts after the first hard frost. Plants die back
And then it was s time for harvest
Old Chef

[TessSR]

I can get it here for a decent price. I also have some growing from what I planted last year. I just need to find out when I need to harvest them. Shipping would be depending on how many you need.

[PhilaGardener]

Where are you located, @mensplace ? To my surprise, I see them here (near Philly, PA) in all the major chains (Acme even!) and Whole Paycheck (ahem, Whole Foods) on a regular basis.

[Gardeneer]

Yes, Sun chokes are harvested after the frost.
I am not a fan of SC. The only use that I like is pickling them. They stay crunchy.

[carolyn137]

Once you grow them you have them forever,that's about all I can say that is or is not nice to say. Some say they are full of inulin which is good for avoiding diabetes and some say if you already have diabetes they can cure you.

But yes, pretty yellow flowers and it took me forever to get rid of them.

Carolyn

[Tracydr]

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

Yes, Sun chokes are harvested after the frost.
I am not a fan of SC. The only use that I like is pickling them. They stay crunchy.

I know this is really an old thread but are the pickles vinegar pickles or fermented? I haven’t found a good way to use them yet and I have a huge patch. They cause a lot of gas,does that get better if you eat them more often?

[ChristinaJo]

I can't remember where I read that the herb, savory helps with gas...and I can't remember if it's Winter or Summer Savory.
Would gas X work?

[GrowingCoastal]

Originally Posted by Tracydr

I know this is really an old thread but are the pickles vinegar pickles or fermented? I haven’t found a good way to use them yet and I have a huge patch. They cause a lot of gas,does that get better if you eat them more often?

Yes, less gas over time. I think if we get gas after these types of foods that it shows we are missing some of what we need in our gut. After taking an antibiotic concoction once it took me a year to get over gas from different foods. I just kept trying to eat different fermented foods and other probiotics. Bean-O helped some but eventually was no longer required.

[PhilaGardener]

Mine are probably over 16 ft tall right now and blooming their heads off!

Gardeneer, do you brine or lactoferment them? I use them sparingly in stir fries but they don't keep well in the refrigerator for me.

If anyone is planning larger scale use, test sparingly first. They can cause GI upset for some folks.

[mensplace]

This has been an interesting couple of weeks. First, I lost all ability to walk for a week thanks to gabapentin. Next, my wife and I went in for our over 65 inoculations. I went on and got the flu version and pneumonia at the same time. Never again! The aches, chills, and fever kept me down for a week. Yesterday, I sat out in the sun just listening and considering.

Today, I walked into the back to check an area I had prepped for the Fall. My neighbor had mowed right up to the edge covering the whole area with his grass clippings that were full of ever weed from lambs quarter to thistle. The area that I had looking beautiful was now covered with weeds with my month's inattention.

In my front garden my transplants of Fall veggies were reduced to skeletons thanks to insects. With one last area left to inspect I saw very little sprouting thanks to our drought. I think that I must try to manage only tomato bed in the Spring. At least that can be controlled, managed, and monitored.

That all considered, it seems best for me not to be planting something for long term returns. Chokes still are my all time favorite relish and pickle, but I will have to find them elsewhere. I'm not giving up across the board, but merely recognizing my limitations that are rapidly changing. GOD bless all...and thanks again for your incredible generosity.

[bower]

We were talking about sunchokes at a seed saving event today at the farm. Apparently they get woody during the summer when they are actively growing, and that is why they are harvested in fall or spring, after the plant has put the sugars into storage in the tubers.

Like Carolyn said, the patches are forever. There's no way that there won't be a small tuber to escape harvest and grow again. Very easy, so if you like them Mensplace, I think it only takes a year to get something to eat. I'm with the others who concluded that a little goes a long way... not something I would ever eat a lot of. I do have a patch, though.

[Gardeneer]

Originally Posted by PhilaGardener

Mine are probably over 16 ft tall right now and blooming their heads off!

Gardeneer, do you brine or lactoferment them? I use them sparingly in stir fries but they don't keep well in the refrigerator for me.

If anyone is planning larger scale use, test sparingly first. They can cause GI upset for some folks.

I have not pickled them myself but my relative do it all the time.
They mostly pickle in vinegar + water + salt + herbs/spices.

Yes, in stir fry they should be good. Like water chestnuts that taste crunchy

[Worth1]

The Germans make alcohol out of them.

Worth