I'm expanding my Jerusalem artichokes; you mention you plant them 12" apart, how far apart is your second row?

Question

I've been allowing them to expand for a year since the chokes are so expensive. Now I'm planning on using them to "fence" a section of my yard that's beyond my fence and thought of using your example of the double rows of chokes and sunflowers but I can't find much information on spacing the plants. Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

My between-row spacing is 18"-24", which may be a little close for the size of the plant. In-row is 12", same thing, maybe close. I'm not too particular with chokes, they're so easy, we just bang 'em in somewhere on the edge, out of the way, and let them do their thing. At that spacing, yield has always been good, although I'm only comparing to my own year-to-year, and we never weed, they tend to reasonably outcompete everything directly under 'em.

I think for small-scale chokes you have to experiment for your field. I've grown from at least three different seed stocks, with no varieties ever identified, and the results have been different every year. Yield has always been good, maybe 2-3 bushels from a 50' single row, could be even 4. But the size and shape of the tubers, and how far they spread from the base of the plant varies quite a bit. I'm not sure how much is variety vs growing conditions. So, try a couple of spacings, in-row and between, and see what happens with what you've. Good thing is, they are easy.

Also, there should be some commercial JA growing info online that may be useful, for growers putting it in by the acre. I think I've seen some. If I run into, I will post back here.

Answer 2

Thank you for your help. Right now I have them packed in two small areas. I did pick some this year. They are as nice as the ones I purchased as seed, there was no information as to variety. That's fine with me since my "farm" is microscopic compared to yours. I did try to find out more online but the information is scarce and mostly copies of an older post. I really like your blog, especially since it's in the same zone as mine. Good luck in this new year.