JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 192, 29 July 1932, Page 10

JERUSALEM ARTICHOKES

The so-called “Jerusalem” artichoke which, by the way, has no connection whatever with the Holy Land, but obtains its namo from a corruption of the Italian name “Girosolo”>—is in reality a tuberous-rooted sunflower.

There are few vegetable crops that afford the amateur such bountiful- yields as this liberal garden tenant, and as it is fortunately adapted to a very great range of soils—much more so than the potato, it is within the cultivation bounds of all. From an agricultural point of view, it is considered a most valuable crop, both the leaves and the tubers being readily availed of by stock. It is a phenomenal yielder, and in some districts has been known to produce a return of a 1000 bushels, about 30 tons to the acre.

But our remarks will be chiefly directed to its economic value to the home gardener. Where artichokes are to grow in the home plot it i 3 always advisable to apportion them a piece of ground to themselves, as - once cultivated in a certain area they are most difficult to eradicate. The smallest tuber left in the soil after digging will produce a plant. The soil for this crop should be deeply trenched and thoroughly broken up. An open, sunny position, sheltered from high winds, is always preferable, as the plant produces lengthy stems, from five to nine feet high, which are liable to be blown over in exposed parts.

Feed the soil, for the plant requires it, but do not overfeed, as the production of useless top growth will be produced to the detriment of the resulting crop. When planting, bear in mind that the smallest tuber will produce a plant. Place the tubers from 18 inches to two feet apart, in the rows, according to available space, and run the rows three feet apart. Well-decomposed stable manure, used moderately but thoroughly, incorporated with the soil, constitutes the best food for tuber production, and should bo well incorporated in the soil. Artichokes should ho planted during July, August and September. Very little cultivation is required other then suppressing weed growth between ihe rows from time to time with the rake or hoe. But this practice should be discontinued immediately the tubers

commence to form, otherwise injury to the crop will result. Unlike the potato, artichokes require no hilling. During the dry summer months conious waterings are essential to maintain a vigorous growth. Usually the crop is ready for digging during the late autumn and early winter months, after the foliage has completely died off. It is, however, not advisable to dig the whole crop at once, a 3 the quality of the tubers is affected by long keeping. Dig, therefore, as required. The remaining tubers will keep for weeks in the soil. Apart from their value as a delicious table vegetable, artichokes produce a profusion of golden petalled blooms, similar in every respect to a sunflower, and are occasionally grown for this purpose alone. For ordinary household requirements, two pounds of tubers will be ample for the average plot. These may be purchased for a few. pence. Artichokes should be more extensively grown in this country, and we strongly advise every householder to include this appetising dish in the home vegetable garden.