2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Jerusalem artichoke (lat. Helianthus tuberosus) - a kind of perennial tuberous plants of the genus Sunflower of the Asteraceae family. Other names are tuberous sunflower, earthen pear or Jerusalem artichoke. The plant got its name in honor of the Tupinambas Indians, with whom the tubers of the plant came to Europe. The homeland of Jerusalem artichoke is South and North America. In Russia, they learned about the plant during the reign of the Tsar - Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov.
Characteristics of culture
Jerusalem artichoke is an annual or perennial plant with a powerful root system and underground shoots, on which edible pear-shaped, oblong-oval or fusiform tubers of white, yellow, purple or red color are formed. The weight of the tubers varies from 10 to 90 g. The stem is green, erect, rather dense, pubescent over the entire surface with short hard hairs, 40-400 cm high, branching on the upper part.
Leaves are petiolate, serrate-toothed. The lower leaves are opposite, cordate-ovate or ovoid, the upper leaves are alternate, lanceolate or oblong-ovate. The flowers are tubular and marginal, collected in baskets, 2-10 cm in diameter. The marginal flowers are pseudo-ligate, golden yellow, tubular - yellow, bisexual. The fruit is achene. Jerusalem artichoke blooms in August-September, the fruits ripen in September-October. Outwardly, the plant is similar to a sunflower.
Jerusalem artichoke is characterized by increased cold resistance. Seedlings can withstand frosts down to -4C, adult plants - up to -7C. Jerusalem artichoke is classified as a short-day plant. At low temperatures and a long day, tubers form very slowly, the plant puts all its strength into building up a powerful vegetative mass.
Growing conditions
Jerusalem artichoke is undemanding to soil conditions, can grow freely on any type of soil, with the exception of salt marshes. Negatively refers to dry soils, especially during budding and tuberization. The culture does not tolerate waterlogged soils. Sandy loam and loamy soils with a cultivated and deep arable layer are optimal. Plots are desirable well lit, light shading is not prohibited.
Soil preparation and planting
A plot for growing a culture is prepared in the fall: the soil is carefully dug up, organic fertilizers are applied, for example, humus, at the rate of 5-10 kg per 1 sq. m. In the spring, the ridges are loosened and fed with superphosphate and wood ash. Acidic soils require preliminary liming.
Jerusalem artichoke is propagated mainly by tubers, less often by cuttings. Tubers are planted in early May, according to the principle of planting potatoes. Planting depth - 12-18 cm (depending on the size of tubers). The distance between the holes should be about 90-100 cm, between the rows - 70-80 cm. If fertilizers were not applied during digging, they are poured into each hole.
Care
At the beginning of summer, the plants are spud. This procedure increases the resistance of Jerusalem artichoke to lodging. Tall specimens are tied to stakes, otherwise they can break even from light gusts of wind. The second hilling is carried out when the plants reach a height of 60-70 cm. Young plants are watered regularly, further watering is carried out only during drought.
It is important to remember that a lack of moisture is detrimental to the development of tubers. The culture has a positive attitude to feeding. On poor soils, Jerusalem artichoke is fed with mullein liquid solution or chicken droppings every three weeks. In the future, caring for the plants consists in weeding and shallow hilling.
Harvesting
Harvesting is carried out in late autumn. Larger tubers are dug up, but not stored, but immediately eaten. Jerusalem artichoke tubers are very juicy, for this reason they rot very quickly. In the first year, the harvests will not please the owners with the amount, in subsequent years they receive 6-8 kg from each specimen.
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