Growing in Birdsville

Best time to plant jerusalem artichoke in Birdsville

Helianthus tuberosus

Also called sunchoke, sunroot, topinambur, earth apple

Sow jerusalem artichoke in Birdsville in Sep.

A sunflower from central North America, the Jerusalem artichoke is grown for uneven tubers that are eaten as a root vegetable. They look a little like ginger root, feel crisp and crunchy when raw and range from pale brown and white to red or purple. Plants reach 1.5 to 3 m with yellow flowers.

When to sow in Birdsville

Birdsville, QLD is in the arid zone. The zone also plants in Jun to Aug, but Birdsville's frost dates make those months risky for a frost-tender crop.

Not yet checked against a local guide.

Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.

Frost in Birdsville

Frost usually arrives in Birdsville around early July and finishes by late July. In about 1 year in 10 it comes as early as late June or as late as mid August, so frost-tender crops are planned around those dates.

From its Bureau of Meteorology station, 1991 to 2020, counting a night at 2°C or lower as a frost. Frost hollows and hillsides can shift these dates by weeks, so ask the growers at your garden too.

On a shared plot: can spread

Any tuber left behind regrows, so it can take over a plot. Grow it in a tub or ask your garden first.

Growing details

How to start
Sow directly in the bed
Sowing depth
10cm
Plant spacing
30cm
Row spacing
45cm
Height
300cm
Time to harvest
250 days
Frost
Frost tender
Sun
Full sun
Life cycle
perennial

These are typical figures, and varieties differ. Your seed packet takes priority.

Jerusalem Artichoke elsewhere

Jerusalem Artichoke across Australia