When to plant Jerusalem Artichoke in Temperate Australia

Temperate zone — applies to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Cool · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

Plant Jerusalem artichoke direct from April right through to November, dropping tubers into warm-enough soil across the cooler half of the year. This hardy sunflower relative is grown from tubers rather than fussy seed, though seed germinates in 14–28 days when used. Plant deep at 100–150 mm, spacing pieces 30–50 cm apart with a wide 90 cm between rows to accommodate the towering summer stems. The knobbly tubers take a full 120–150 days to bulk up, so expect to dig from late autumn onward. In temperate gardens around Ballarat-mild Melbourne and Adelaide, one planting can feed you for years.

Sowing calendar — temperate zone

Green months are your sowing window: April to November.

Growing notes

Jerusalem artichokes are almost impossible to fail with, which is both their charm and their catch. The plants grow into 2–3 metre sunflower-like stems over summer, so give them a spot where the shade they cast will not trouble other crops, ideally along a fence or the southern edge of the patch.

Plant tubers deep, water them through the summer growing season for the fattest harvest, and otherwise leave them alone. They tolerate poor soil and neglect, though rich, loose ground gives smoother, easier-to-clean tubers. Cut the tall stems down once they yellow in autumn, then start digging.

The defining failure mode is not death but escape. Any tuber left in the ground will resprout next season, so a single bed quickly becomes a permanent, spreading patch. The fix is to harvest thoroughly, dig over the bed to collect stragglers, and accept that you are committing that ground to Jerusalem artichokes for the long haul. Grow them where a bit of spread is welcome, not in a tidy rotation bed.

Store tubers in the ground and dig as needed through winter, since they keep far better in the soil than in the fridge. Their nutty flavour improves after the first cold snap.

Jerusalem Artichoke at a glance

Common questions

How deep do I plant Jerusalem artichoke tubers?

Plant tubers deep, at around 100–150 mm, spaced 30–50 cm apart. The deep planting supports the tall summer stems and helps the plants anchor against wind.

Why do Jerusalem artichokes keep coming back every year?

Any tuber left in the soil at harvest will resprout the following season, so the patch effectively becomes permanent. Harvest thoroughly and dig the bed over to collect stragglers if you want to reclaim the ground.

When should I harvest Jerusalem artichokes in Melbourne?

Dig from late autumn once the tops have yellowed, generally from around 120–150 days after planting. In Melbourne the flavour sweetens after the first cold snap, and tubers store best left in the ground until needed.

Do Jerusalem artichokes need full sun?

Yes, they crop best in full sun, which drives the tall stems and tuber production. Because they grow 2–3 metres high, plant them where the shade they throw will not overshadow lower crops.

Keep exploring