They go by a few different names, sunchokes, Jerusalem artichokes, sun root, and more. Closely related to the sun flower it provides beautiful little sunflowers all over each plant but is cultivated for its tuber!
each plant can make up to 200 more tubers each year, making this a prolific food source, and storage is simple, you leave them in the ground until you want to eat. though first year tubers are the best! and because of its prolific propagation, it is a perfect crop to supplement goat, chicken and pig feed.
the sunchoke tuber is high in good fats along with fiber and natural sweetness. because of this natural sweetness it can be used to make sugar. eaten fresh that sweetness is not digested by humans. you can have the benefits of sweetness but not have to worry about your sugar levels if your diabetic! though if may give you gas so eat in moderation.
i love this plant and if you are ever near me, in southern missouri, id gladly give you a plant and yes just one plant, its all you will need!
We purchased two sunchokes at bakers creek last year. an animal topped one of them but didnt like it so i planted it AND IT SURVIVED!
from those three we gain so many. enough that we are going to have a great harvest and still be good next year!
