Heirloom Purple Jerusalem Artichoke Tubers – Organic Sunchokes for Planting

Overview

Introduce a unique and flavorful addition to your garden with our heirloom Jerusalem artichoke tubers. Also known as sunchokes, sunroots, or earth apples, these versatile tubers (Helianthus tuberosus) are a species of sunflower prized for their edible roots. This particular variety, ‘Beaver Valley Purple,’ is an heirloom selection known for its distinct tan roots heavily tinged with purple and demarcated with purple-brown bands. These organic sunchokes are not only delicious but also a fascinating plant to cultivate, providing both beauty and sustenance. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting, heirloom sunchokes offer a rewarding growing experience and a bountiful harvest of sweet, crisp tubers for culinary exploration.

Originally native to eastern North America, Jerusalem artichoke tubers have a rich history and are now cultivated widely across temperate zones. They are a robust and adaptable plant, making them an excellent choice for home gardens. The ‘Beaver Valley Purple’ variety is celebrated for its fairly large and sweet tubers, making it ideal for various dishes. These tubers are a fantastic alternative to potatoes, offering a similar consistency with a sweeter, nuttier flavor, perfect for salads, roasting, or even fermenting. Explore the culinary potential and gardening joy of purple sunchokes in your own backyard.

Key Benefits

Cultivating Jerusalem artichoke tubers in your garden provides a wealth of benefits, from their easy-care nature to their delicious and nutritious yield. These plants are a fantastic choice for gardeners seeking both productivity and aesthetic appeal.

• Easy to Grow: Organic sunchokes are incredibly resilient and adaptable, thriving in a wide range of soil conditions and requiring minimal maintenance once established. This makes them an excellent choice for gardeners of all skill levels.
• Delicious & Versatile Harvest: The tubers offer a sweet, nutty flavor with a crisp texture when raw, making them ideal for salads, roasting, mashing, or even pickling. They are a healthy substitute for potatoes and a unique ingredient for various culinary creations.
• Nutrient-Rich Food Source: These tubers are a good source of protein (about 10%), contain no oil, and are surprisingly starch-free, offering a healthy dietary option. They are also known for containing inulin, a prebiotic fiber beneficial for gut health.
• Heirloom Variety: The ‘Beaver Valley Purple’ is a cherished heirloom, offering a connection to gardening history and a distinct, reliable variety for your garden. Growing heirloom sunchokes helps preserve genetic diversity and offers superior flavor.
• Attractive Garden Plant: Beyond their edible tubers, Jerusalem artichoke tubers produce bright yellow, sunflower-like blooms in late summer to fall, adding a touch of beauty to your garden landscape. They can also form a dense screen or windbreak.
• Drought Tolerant: Once established, sunchokes can withstand periods of drought, making them a low-water-use option for sustainable gardening.
• Perennial Growth: Once planted, purple sunchokes will sprout each year in the same spot, providing a continuous harvest with little effort, making them a truly perennial vegetable.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Growing Jerusalem artichoke tubers is relatively straightforward, making them an excellent choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. For optimal growth, plant your organic sunchokes in a location that receives full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. While sunchokes are adaptable, they prefer loose, well-drained soil. Amending your planting beds with aged compost or sand before planting will improve soil structure and make harvesting the tubers much easier. The ideal soil pH for sunchokes ranges from 5.8 to 6.2. It’s often best to set sunchokes in a dedicated bed, as they are prolific growers and will return year after year in the same location, potentially outcompeting other plants if not contained.

Planting sunchokes can be done in the spring, approximately 2 to 3 weeks before your average last frost date, or in the fall, or any time the soil can be worked. Plant the tubers 2 to 6 inches deep and 12 to 18 inches apart, with rows spaced 36 inches apart. Applying 2-4 inches of mulch will help protect the tubers from freezing temperatures, especially in colder climates. Sunchokes require 110 to 150 days to reach maturity for harvest and thrive in temperatures ranging from 65° to 90°F. While they are drought-tolerant once established, providing an even, regular supply of water will promote the best growth. These resilient plants typically do not require extra feeding if grown in soil rich in organic matter. Avoid planting sunchokes with tomatoes, but they make good companions for corn, rhubarb, and peanuts. Harvest Jerusalem artichoke tubers after the foliage has died back in late fall or winter, as the tubers gain most of their weight during this period.

Size & Details

Each package contains a selection of Jerusalem artichoke tubers, ready for planting. The ‘Beaver Valley Purple’ variety is known for producing fairly large and sweet tubers. These tubers are typically elongated and uneven, resembling ginger root, measuring approximately 7.5–10 centimeters (3.0–3.9 inches) long and 3–5 centimeters (1.2–2.0 inches) thick. Their color ranges from pale brown, heavily tinged with purple, to distinct purple-brown bands. The tubers are shipped in their dormant state, ready to be planted upon arrival. Once planted, these heirloom sunchokes have a moderate growth rate, with their foliage growing tall and attractive throughout the summer before dying back in the fall. Expect a harvest of mature tubers within 110 to 150 days from planting. These tubers will continue to multiply and provide harvests for years to come when properly managed.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these Jerusalem artichoke tubers get? A: The tubers themselves typically grow to be 7.5–10 centimeters (3.0–3.9 inches) long and 3–5 centimeters (1.2–2.0 inches) thick. The plant foliage can grow quite tall, often reaching 5-10 feet in height, providing a substantial presence in the garden.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Jerusalem artichoke tubers are primarily grown outdoors. They are a hardy perennial that thrives in garden beds and can withstand various outdoor conditions, returning year after year.
• Q: How much sunlight do these organic sunchokes need? A: Sunchokes require full sun for optimal growth, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. While they can tolerate some partial shade, tuber production will be best in sunny locations.
• Q: Are these purple sunchokes easy to care for? A: Yes, purple sunchokes are known for being very easy to care for. They are drought-tolerant once established, require minimal fertilization, and are generally resistant to pests and diseases, making them excellent for beginner gardeners.
• Q: What condition will the Jerusalem artichoke tubers arrive in? A: Your Jerusalem artichoke tubers will arrive in a dormant state, ready for planting. They are carefully packaged to ensure they reach you in excellent condition, prepared to sprout and grow.
• Q: Can I use these heirloom sunchokes in cooking? A: Absolutely! Heirloom sunchokes are highly prized for their culinary versatility. They can be eaten raw in salads, roasted, boiled, mashed, or even used to make spirits, offering a sweet, nutty flavor profile.
• Q: When is the best time for planting sunchokes? A: The best time for planting sunchokes is in the spring, about 2 to 3 weeks before the last average frost date, or in the fall. They can also be planted anytime the soil is workable.
• Q: What type of soil do Jerusalem artichoke tubers prefer? A: While adaptable, Jerusalem artichoke tubers prefer loose, well-drained soil. Amending heavy soils with compost or sand will improve drainage and facilitate easier harvesting.
• Q: Will these organic sunchokes survive winter in my zone? A: Sunchokes are very hardy and can survive winter in many USDA zones. Applying a 2-4 inch layer of mulch can help protect the tubers in colder climates and ensure they return the following spring.
• Q: How long until I can harvest the tubers? A: You can typically harvest Jerusalem artichoke tubers 110 to 150 days after planting. The best time to harvest is after the plant’s foliage has died back in late fall or winter, as this is when the tubers gain most of their size and flavor.