Best time to plant jerusalem artichoke in Australia
Helianthus tuberosus
Also called sunchoke, sunroot, topinambur, earth apple
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.
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.
When to sow
| Zone | Months | How well checked |
|---|---|---|
| Cool | Jun to Oct | Broadly matches local guides, with some differences |
| Temperate | Jun to Nov | Matches local guides |
| Subtropical | Jul to Nov | Broadly matches local guides, with some differences |
| Tropical | May to Aug | Not yet checked against a local guide |
| Arid | Jun to Sep | Not yet checked against a local guide |
Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.
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.