How to grow jerusalem artichoke in Melbourne
Helianthus tuberosus
Also called sunchoke, sunroot, topinambur, earth apple
Frost in Melbourne rules out the cool zone's usual months for jerusalem artichoke. Ask the growers at your garden what works locally.
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 Melbourne
Melbourne, VIC is in the cool zone. The zone also plants in Jun to Oct, but Melbourne's frost dates make those months risky for a frost-tender crop.
Broadly matches local guides, with some differences.
Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.
Frost in Melbourne
Frost usually arrives in Melbourne around mid June and finishes by late August. In about 1 year in 10 it comes as early as late May or as late as late September, so frost-tender crops are planned around those dates.
From the average of its 2 Bureau of Meteorology stations, 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.