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Anyone have any experience with Jerusalem artichokes? I just got a big bag of tubers from a friend and haven't really used them before. Should I try to overwinter them in the fridge or go ahead and plant them now for next year?

Manny, why not split them up and try it both ways? Plant some now (assuming it's warm enough there today) and save the rest for mid March ~ May.

I have been wanting to try these Manny but have not tried to plant any as yet. My understanding is that they winter over well in the ground and act like a perennial. When you dig up the tubers you can't get them all, at least some of the roots will stay in the ground to come back next year. At least that is how I understand they work, some one with more experience with them may have better information but that's my story, and I'm sticking to it. The one thing I have heard over and over again [ Besides the fact that if you only had one food to plant it should be this one because they produce so much per sq ft ] is that they make you pass gas. This apparently becomes less of a problem once your body adjusts to them, but every one seems to say they tend to make you Fart. So be prepared, it may be a bit fragrant around the house for awhile.

Good advice you two. I split them into 3 piles. 1 pile got planted, 1 pile gets put away to plant next spring, 1 pile is getting eaten.

My friend warned me about the digestion issue, too. Maybe I'll start heating my home on methane!

That may make a lot of sense, the benevolent dictator of that other permaculture site says that he heats his house with a light bulb and a fart.

Well Manny, How do they taste? I figured you have had enough time to try them at this point. So what is the verdict, do you love them, or do you hate them, or is it some where in the middle.

They're pretty tasty. I've tried them twice. Once in a hot saute pan with oil and once roasted in the oven. They do cause some abdominal pain. From what I have read there is a portion that is indigestible, so there's no getting used to them, they just physically can't be digested. Nothing terrible. Everything in moderation, right?

Not so bad that I won't grow them. Pretty good with some Paul Bocuse inspired seasoning.

They do great here, I imagine they'll do the same at your place Manny. I use them like I do potatoes, in that I'll spread them around to break in new areas I want to work the following year. They do well against weeds since they are so tall, and then when you dig them in the fall you have a prepped bed.

I thought it might be good if we knew what to do with them after we grew them, Here is a soup recipe that sounded good.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cream-of-J ... hoke-Soup/


Hope you all enjoy.

Tried it last night Guy (poot). Really good (burp). Dang those things are gassy (waft)!