Jerusalem artichoke

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

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Read about Jerusalem artichoke in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus, Linn.). Compositae. The Jerusalem artichoke is the subterranean stem tuber of a native sunflower. Fig. 391. The plant is coarse and upright, and persists as a weed when once introduced. It does not need excessively rich soil, nor high culture, succeeding on any warm well-drained land without attention. It is planted much after the manner of potatoes, and it will grow and produce its many smallish, white, edible tubers. In late fall, the plants may be pulled up, exposing to view the tubers that are clustered around the roots near the main stalks so that they can be easily gathered with the help of a hoe or potato hook, if wanted for use as a culinary vegetable; or, if grown for hog-feed, the hogs may be turned right into the field and allowed to dig their own. All farm stock seems to like the artichoke tubers. If shredded or ground and mixed with meals, they make a good winter ration, as a variety, for poultry. More prolific than common potatoes, and far more easily grown, the artichoke is one of the crops that may be considered for cultivation as a succulent vegetable to - feed to cattle, swine, and other farm animals during winter. Raw or boiled and served cold with oil and vinegar, this tuber also makes a very palatable winter or spring salad, and for this purpose it finds a limited sale in our markets. The chief commercial demand for it is for seed purposes. Frost has no injurious effect on the tuber in the ground, and the easiest way to winter it, therefore, is by leaving the plants alone until spring and then digging the tubers. If already harvested, they may be pitted like potatoes, beets, or other roots, and will require very little covering. Mammoth White French is said by some propagators to be an improved strain of the Jerusalem artichoke. If there is danger of the plant spreading and becoming a weed, hogs, when given a chance at it, will soon clear the land of the tubers. It was cultivated by the Indians. See Helianthus. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

External links

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