Jerusalem Artichoke is a perennial sunflower species with an edible, hardy bulb. Thanks to a frost hardiness of up to - 30° Celsius, the tuber can overwinter very well. The most important requirement is a little restraint when harvesting. You can find out why this is so here. This is how you winter Jerusalem artichoke in the bed and on the balcony properly.

Jerusalem artichoke is very hardy

Harvest Jerusalem artichoke correctly - overwinter successfully

Perennial cultivation of Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) in the vegetable patch is not a question of winter protection. Biting frost cannot harm the tubers. The decisive prerequisite is that there are still rhizomes in the soil at all. This premise requires careful harvesting by the hobby gardener. How to do it:

  • Best harvest time is in autumn (October to November)
  • Harvest Jerusalem artichoke when the herb is brown and wilted
  • Lift tubers out of the ground with a digging fork, similar to potatoes
  • Weed the bed, loosen it up and enrich it with compost
  • Harvest tubers in the tub with a hand shovel or pull out the plant

From among the freshly harvested Jerusalem artichoke tubers, you now select the best, undamaged specimens. Immediately plant the rhizomes 5 to 10 cm deep in the prepared soil, 50 to 60 cm apart. Preferably fill a bucket with fresh, organic vegetable soil over a drainage made of lava granules before planting selected tubers and overwintering.

Winter Jerusalem artichokes - tips for beds and balconies

In the bed, frost-resistant Jerusalem artichoke tubers can basically hibernate without any winter protection. A cover of straw, leaves or coarse compost is recommended as a buffer against winter wetness from snow or rain. All hardy tubers and bulbs, such as tulip bulbs, tend to rot if the soil is too wet.

Balcony gardeners protect Jerusalem artichoke in the tub with a winter coat made of fleece or bubble wrap against frost. The exposed position of the rhizomes recommends this protective measure. A base made of wood repels frost from below. If there is a warming layer of straw mulch on the substrate, frosty temperatures are denied access to the tubers.

tips

Always plant Jerusalem artichoke in the bed with a root barrier. The bulbous sunflower grows massively and mercilessly crowds out neighboring plants. By lining a planting pit with an impenetrable geotextile,(107.71€) you stop the invasive urge to spread.

Category:

Vegetable garden