Sunchokes (Helianthus tuberosus)

Also known as Jerusalem Artichoke, Sunchokes are a perennial member of the sunflower family and are native to the east coast of North America from southern Canada south to Florida and east to South Dakota. They were cultivated by Native Americans long before European arrival and as such it is hard to tell where they were originally native, versus spread by early gardeners. Widely grown for its delicious and abundant tubers that can be eaten raw in salads, cooked as a potato, stirfried and used for soup. Highly nutricious they are rich in minerals and a healthy starch called inulin that is good for lowering blood sugar levels and can be eaten by diabetics who are unable to eat potatoes. Hugely productive producing up to 20 tons per acre they have enormous potential as an animal feed, as well as in the production of ethanol. Grows from 5 to 8 feet tall, they are topped by showy sunflowers in the fall. Tops die down over winter and new shoots emerge with warm weather in the spring. Tubers can be dug all winter long if ground isn't frozen, or they can be dug in the fall and stored in a root cellar.Our strain is a large white skinned variety we have been growing for many years and has the best flavor and production of the varieties we have trialed.