Jerusalem artichokes

[red]

we have inherited a patch. apart from giving you wind.. what are these good for?

I've made soup before. and suggestions? is it harvest time? anyone grow them?

[shiney]

This maybe useful.

http://www.samcooks.com/relish/jerusalem_artichokes.htm

You're right about the wind!!

[Wombat]

I've grown 'em for years but must admit to not doing huge amounts, think of them as being knobbly spuds!

Nev

[Stonehead]

We grow them, too. Moderate amounts at the moment but field scale next year for pig food and a bioethanol experiment.

On the human consumption side, you can eat them raw in salads, use them in slivers like celery with dips, use them in stir fries, bake them whole (yum with olive oil, salt and pepper), boiled and mashed like potatoes, in soups, stews and casseroles, or just steam and serve with butter and pepper.

We don't worry about wind - one more gust up here makes little or no difference...

[red]

and I have heard there can be tricky to get rid of (not that I see that as a big problem), but shoudl I hesitate to bung stalks and roots on my compost heap?

[Wombat]

Stalks are OK, but not roots, unless you want a massive mound of JAs instead of compost. In my experieince if they get out of hand, send in the chooks! They will dig, scratch up and devour every last bit!

Nev

[HILLDREAMER90]

Underated.v tasty veg,look after themselfs,bit of a mulch once a year & harvest allmost anytime. v v windy!! A.

[supersprout]

oo love those JAs!
yes, the roots will grow again anywhere - get them all up.
useful screen or windbreak, but you might have to stake them if very windy. They can be cut to any height.

Scrub, parboil, and the skins slip off.

Recipes?

Gratin, like spuds or parmigiano, like aubergine
Artichoke and celeriac soup
Large ones peeled and roasted around the joint
Peeled, then chips
Just boiled and served as part of an aolli - people skin them as they go
Provencale - with olive oil, garlic, onion, tomato, and herbs, and fresh crusty bread
Cold in salad with seafood and a light salad dressing

... I could go on ...

[Wormella]

If you put some kelp in with the JA's as they cook it should get rid of the windy side effects. I'm not that fussed on them really.

[supersprout]

cover them with straw and cut down to stumps, then you'll be able to harvest even in the snow and frost :)

[Shirley]

A friend is going to give us some fartichoke tubers to plant... she did 5 last year and now has over 50!!

I love them - and if something grows well it gets a place in my garden :)

What's a bit of wind between friends anyway - keeps you warm in the winter

[red]

well these ones were scrummy - I made artichoke and carrot soup, did lunch for the 3 of us for 3 days.. and that was just one plant....one down billions to go.

definitely going to grow some more next year. when is planting time?

[HILLDREAMER90]

I had mine in a deep bed,used to just lift with fork & take what i needed,leaving the smaller 1s to grow.plant nowish or spring,dont think it matters,they will grow!! i grew the variety fuseau,bigger & less nobbly. Had a look in my poor neglected gdn to find mine,couldent find them,mabe mice got them.A.

[farmerdrea]

Goats LOVE LOVE LOVE the stalks (and the roots for that matter), so we grow heaps every year for us and for them. To get the best growth from the tubers, I leave the plants till the leaves just start to wither, and then cut to the ground and the goats get a feast.

I would really love to hear more about that bioethanol experiment!

Cheers
Andrea
NZ

[supersprout]

When we harvest a root, there are usually big uns we can peel for roasties, and little uns.

We wash and steam the little uns for 20 minutes or so, let them cool a bit, then squidge them out of their skins. Much easier than trying to peel them raw