Help-too many sunchokes!

[yugogypsy]

Does anyone out there know a fool proof way-other than pigs, that I can get rid of too many sunchokes.?

We spaded over both beds twice, and there were 4 of us digging.

And both areas popped up another 20-30 sunchokes each.

Help, I'm feeling overwhelmed by the darn things

Lois

[ina]

What are sunchokes?

[yugogypsy]

Also known as Jerusalem artichokes, they are like a weed when they get going-see Andy's article on the homepage.

They have to be well contained-mine are in beds-its just they are SO prolific that unless you dig them over every year they become crowded, we split 1 bed into 3 and let them go for 2 years, the first bed has still got 30 or so in it and so does the 2nd bed.

And this despite all our digging, plus giving away about 500 lbs of them as pig feed.

I'm going to get a soil screen for when we dig them out in the fall, maybe then we'll get them all, I sure hope so, they are the bane of my gardening existence. (Sorry Andy ) they do taste good, but too many is too many!

Lois

[Wombat]

Hey Lois,

In my experience there is onl;y one antidote to jerualem artichokes - CHOOKS!

They will uncover and eat the lot, leaving you with clean beds.

Nev

[ina]

When I planted mine, I took something to heart that I'd read somewhere before - plant them in a place where you are willing to leave them more or less for eternity. Mine are coming up again quite nicely.

I've tried something I'd not done before - planted sugar snap peas in amongst them, in the hope they'll use the artichokes as support.

[Wombat]

Good one Ina!

Nev

[yugogypsy]

Okay Nev, will let the chooks I get into the garden whenever I get chooks.

I tried using sunchokes as runner bean supports and they work good for that too.

Lois

[contadino]

Our puppy has taken to digging them up. I'll sell/rent her to you if you want. Canada's just about far enough away.

[Millymollymandy]

When I was living in a rented house in the Netherlands, the first summer some strange plants came up in a small flower bed. They turned out to be Jerusalem artichokes so I got rid of them.

Upon telling the owner this, she said she'd never planted Jerusalem Artichokes in her garden!

Thankfully I've not had that problem here!

[ina]

Upon telling the owner this, she said she'd never planted Jerusalem Artichokes in her garden!

I thought it was only potatoes that walked!

[yugogypsy]

Nope, 'chokes walk too, I have one in the potato tires

Hopefully it won't cause an invasion of them!

Lois

[Milims]

I planted some in my garden and enjoyed the yummy harvest (fab roasted with chicken and olive oil) but have had none since! Maybe you could send some my way and make me suffer too!! lol

[yugogypsy]

If I could, I would, try your local classifieds, or freecycle looking for them

Lois