Jerusalem Artichoke Flowers

Every year they are the very last plant to put out flowers. It is a nice little surprise each time the bright yellow sunflower-esque flowers open up after the first frosts. I originally planted just 3 little tubers, that have now grown into a fairly substantial mass that I have been unable to fully remove. Each time I harvest the tubers, I always miss a few little dots that end up growing again the next season.

The good part of the volunteer Jerusalem Artichokes is that they are on the outskirts of the garden, along the fence line, so I am not ruining crop real estate. The potential for me to grow these for sale is on the low end, but that is not to say I couldn't figure out a place to plant or a market to sell to.

We will see, I have been wanting to plant a few rows of these to let them try and grow wild near our stream to act as a screen from the highway during the summer. They would make a great screening wall if planted a few rows deep, plus they are edible. Dual purpose food is always a great thing to have around. The stalks probably have a use as well that I am not taking advantage of currently.