Seeing as Jerusalem is in the news again (thanks to Trump), I thought I'd sing the praises of the wonderful Jerusalem Artichoke. Above is the last of my 2017 crop.
Known as Fartichokes for good reason, they are an essential crop in the Veg' patch; usually confined to a disused corner where they can do no harm.
Their most enduring quality is that they never really need re-sowing; there are always a few stragglers left in the ground for them to reproduce themselves for the following year..... and for ever after.
Personally I use them in just two ways; in soups, and roasted. Both ways are delicious.
I have been searching for years for a non-knobbly variety of JA, but I don't think it exists. I'm moving my Artichoke plot this year, and, regardless of what I wrote above, I have just bought a few new tubers (above) from my usual supermarket.
I shall sow them in some well composted sandy soil; not only should they grow extremely well, but hopefully they will also be easily brushed clean, to save all that time-consuming peeling.
And don't forget; keep your windows open after eating!
N.B. The weather has been so good over the past couple of days that I've actually started DIGGING. It's great to be back on the soil.
42 comments:
They have that effect on me. I eat them fairly often. Especially if I'm in Italy. What makes me fart is lentils.
Salvador Dali was a great believer in farting. Good for the health he reckoned.
Good for Dali's health, maybe; but not so good for those around him.
Digging already? That's amazing. I'll have frozen ground for another three months. Although my indoors key lime tree has got some nice limes ripening.
It was so good to get out on the veg' patch again. It might be a while again now, as we're expecting more cold weather.
We call them Topinambur here. Autumn has arrived when we see their tall stalked orange margarita-like flowers. My husband likes them for their truffle/mushroom flavour: I don't buy them anymore for obvious reasons!
Greetings Maria x
If you enlarge my photo, you will see that they are called Topinambour here; just an added 'u'. I ignore the effects, and eat them with gusto!
My grandmother used to grow them. Didn't like them but I was a youngster back then. Never seen them here.
It's been far too wet to contemplate doing anything on
my plot, although I will sow celeriac and chillies for indoor germination soon. Topinambour are always available at my allotment (I don't grow them myself because of their global domination qualities) but whenever I'm offered a bag I always accept. Like you I love them roasted and in soups.
I grow a row at one end of my plot. They make a good windbreak.
I'd never encountered them until we moved to England (from Australia). Nobody warned me about their lively effect on the digestive system and the first time I cooked and ate them was the night before I had an important meeting with some very senior art historians. Talk about embarrassing. Fortunately the meeting was in an enormous country house and I was able to disappear down a very long corridor to the toilet at regular intervals.
They have a very nice nutty flavour; delicious when roasted with a Chicken or some pork.
You're right, if one or two people have them on their allotments, then everyone benefits.
They make a very good windbreak, and they make you break wind. I'm not sure which is the more useful.
You need to plan your next few days. Stay at home for at least two days after consumption.
We've never grown artichokes, partly because I'm not a huge fan and partly because they take up a huge amount of room in the garden.
They certainly need to be controlled. I've just made a new dedicated area for them, where I can keep an eye on any spreading. I would never be without them.
In my life I've wasted a lot time on futile activities. It seems you are still doing so.
And long may I do so; I'd hate for anyone to brand me as 'sensible'.
I've never ate them and don't knoww why they are called Jerusalem Artichok.
I don't know why Brussel Sprouts are called that either. I think we blame all sorts of things on other countries - like the latest Japanese Flu.
Not only is it not from Jerusalem, but it isn't an Artichoke either. Names develop in a haphazard way (apart from the Latin binomial).
'Binominal' Woops.
I did not know the effects of artichokes, but nowI know not to serve them in the winter when the windows are all shut tight.
We had a stretch of warm days also and my pansies are blooming. I know, though, that it is only January and it will all change quickly.
We have Daffs and Daylilies coming up, but as you say, we mustn't be fooled!
You rarely see them on our veggie stalls on the market or in supermarkets here Cro. They seem to be unpopular - seems for obvious reasons.
Would you please go to my last post and look at the comments and go down until you get to Gail's who asks me why she can no longer leave a reply on your site. You might be able to help her. Thanks.
The thought of working in the garden in January is so foreign to me.
The only thing I can think of is that he's not 'signed-in' somewhere. My page is generally open to all.
It is normally to me too Joanne. We were very lucky with a couple of good dry days.
The name Jerusalem is a corruption of their Latin name, girasol. They are a member of the sunflower family.
We grow a variety called fusteau. They are a bit invasive though. We still love them.
I had never even heard of these things before until recently at a blog called MANGER to be found under mimithorisson.com. I wonder what they taste like.
and they make a lovely windbreak....I'll get my hat....!!
(They do, as well...very pretty)
I grew them on Bosoms once and will do this year x
I'm digging ours up this weekend too, though i struggle to find anything to with them that the family like. The plants (tops) are good animal food and the flowers not bad for cutting|(sunflower family)
There is a field quite near us that is almost 100% artichokes. I think they need to put some Pigs on it for a while. Invasive is the word.
They are delicious; especially roasted. Imagine a soft, nutty flavoured, Turnip/Potato. Probably not a good description; you'll have to taste them yourself.
Why not. They look after themselves, always produce a good crop, and taste great. The perfect crop.
They'd be even better if the flowers were a bit bigger. Maybe I'll put a few Sunflowers in amongst mine.
I planted my new ones yesterday.... now I have to wait nearly a year!
Which animals eat the tops?
I think that there is a data supply war going on.... I can’t respond to some people via Safari on my iPad.... but have no problem on Firefox.... and it says I’m signed in on both.... but my comments vanish....??? On others, I leave a comment, the blogger replies....but I find I can’t reply to that..... odd, very odd!!
We had these again with our last Sunday roast - fantastic flavour. We'd forgotten about their side effects I must admit, so it's a good thing we both enjoy them - we could blame each other for the consequences! Very jealous of you being able to dig already. Despite living in a very sandy-soil area (only a mile from the coast) our allotment is, ironically, compacted silt and very hard to work at the best of times. As it is I suspect it'll be waterlogged till March .... :(
Thank you for this your broadcast provided bright clear concept..
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