How to Grow Jerusalem Artichokes (Sunchokes)

The spread warning is the plant

Jerusalem artichoke is a native perennial sunflower that stores energy in tubers, and every tuber or fragment you fail to dig becomes next year's plant. Clemson Extension is direct: they are invasive because they can come back from any tubers left in the ground and colonize a large area, so plant in a confined space or raised bed/large container unless you want them to spread.

Ohio State's factsheet makes the same point from the other direction — after harvest, a complete soil search is needed to avoid volunteer plants the following spring. In practice nobody finds every tuber, which is why an unconfined patch is permanent.

The workable setups: a large container, a raised bed with edges, or a dedicated corner where a returning patch is a feature. They are also tall — 4 to 10 feet with small sunflowers in late summer — so site them where they will not shade the rest of the garden.

Planting and a season of neglect

Plant tubers in spring, 4 to 6 inches deep (Clemson says about four inches; Ohio State plants approximately six inches deep in late April to mid-May), in full sun and reasonably fertile, well-drained soil. Give plants 2 to 3 feet — they get large.

That is most of the work. The plants are vigorous enough to outcompete weeds once up, and yields are startling: Clemson's trial patch produced 70 pounds from two transplants in the first year.

Harvest after frost, and the inulin caveat

Wait for fall: Ohio State harvests in mid-October after the first frost, and the window runs from fall through early spring, since tops die to the ground and tubers can be dug as needed. Cold improves the eating quality.

Fresh tubers do not store like potatoes — Clemson says they keep only a couple of weeks in the refrigerator — so the ground itself is the best storage; dig what you will use.

The digestive note, honestly: sunchoke tubers are rich in inulin (up to 75% of dry weight per Ohio State), an indigestible fiber that gut bacteria ferment. That makes them a good prebiotic food, but eating large quantities at once may cause gas in some people. Try a small serving first.

Sources

Reviewed 2026-07-18. We cite university Extension, government, and established horticultural sources — and never invent pesticide rates or dangerous treatments.

• Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC — A Re-acquaintance with Sunchokes aka Jerusalem Artichokes — Invasive: they can come back from any tubers left in the ground and colonize a large area — plant in a confined space or raised bed/large container; plant tubers about 4 inches deep in full sun; plants grow 4-10 feet; tops die to the ground in winter and harvest runs fall through early spring; contain inulin, an indigestible fiber, and large quantities at once may cause gas in some people; fresh tubers keep only a couple of weeks in the refrigerator; 70 pounds harvested from two transplants in year one.
• Ohio State University Extension (Ohioline) — Growth, Harvest, and Serving of Jerusalem Artichoke (Sunchoke) — Plant tubers approximately 6 inches deep in late April through mid-May, 2-3 feet apart; harvest in mid-October after the first frost; a complete soil search should be conducted at harvest to collect all tubers and avoid volunteer plants the next spring; tubers contain up to 75% inulin by dry weight and are a prebiotic fiber source.

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