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Jerusalem artichokes are a tuberous sunflower from north America. They’re not from Jerusalem and they are not artichokes either. The original name is Giro Sol, to turn with the sun which in Italian sounds like Jerusalem and they have a similar flavour to artichokes. It is a versatile and useful plant with it’s many uses beyond being ornamental.
Plants reach 3 meters / 10ft in height very quickly and are ideal for a pop up hedge or a wind barrier for the summer months. Tubers are plentiful and can overwinter outside without frost damage. They do particularly well in no dig lasagne gardens and perennial mulched gardens. Tubers can even be harvested throughout the winter or left to grow on year after year. It’s latin name is Helianthus Tuberosus.
Sunroots are famous for it’s edible tubers which are often referred to as earth apple. Although it’s best to wait until the carbohydrates have turned from inulin into fructose later in the winter, this makes it sweeter to taste and you will not have to find out why it is also known as ‘fartichoke’. While they had a reputation of being a poor mans food during world war 2 – being the most common food available at the time along with rutabaga (Swedes) Served, Sunroots are now being served in many restaurants as a fine delicacy in many dishes mostly roasted or in soups, also for making country wine.
Beautiful Ornamental plants and edible tubers! Vigorous tubers are freshly harvested on the day of purchase and posted unwashed for extra preservation. Variety: Red Fuseau. More info below. Please note tubers are available from November to April. Buy more get more extra free. Free postage on additional items! Latin name: Helianthus tuberosus