How to grow Jerusalem Artichoke in Australia
Plant tubers in full sun in almost any soil, ideally in a dedicated bed as the tall stems and spreading tubers can take over. Water during dry spells for a heavier crop, and stake or group plants so they support each other in wind.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 4 litres a week, watered every 3 days
- Spacing: 40 cm
- Time to harvest: 150 days
- Time to germinate: 14 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7.5
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | April to August | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | April to August | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | March to September | Extended cool season suits Jerusalem artichokes well. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | August to October | Thrives in Melbourne. Plant tubers Aug to Oct; tops die back in autumn, harvest after dieback (Apr to Jun). Tubers hold in the ground over winter. Watch spreading. |
| Adelaide & SA | August to October | Plant tubers Aug to Oct. Tops die back in autumn; dig tubers after dieback Apr to Jun. Drought hardy and spreads, so contain the bed. |
| Perth & WA | March to September | Drought-tolerant. Thrives in Perth. |
| Tasmania | August to October | Plant tubers Aug to Oct. Harvest after tops die down in autumn. Thrives in Tasmania - contain the patch. |
| Canberra & ACT | September and October | Plant tubers Sep to Oct. Tops die with autumn frost; harvest May to Jul after dieback. Very productive in Canberra. |
| North Queensland | Not suited | Not suited. Tubers need a cool autumn to form and rot in warm wet soil. Grow sweet potato, cassava or taro instead. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not suited. Tubers need a cool autumn to form and rot in warm wet soil. Grow sweet potato, cassava or taro instead. |
Varieties
- Fuseau
- Dwarf Sunray
Companion planting
Good companions
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Dig the tubers after the tops die down. Fork them up carefully, take what you need and leave some in the soil to crop again.
Storage
Cool dry place in paper bag for 2 to 3 weeks. Fridge for 1 month.