Jerusalem artichoke - magic earthy pear
Jerusalem artichoke appeared in Europe in the early 17th century and quickly took its place on the table. In Russia, with the advent of potatoes, Jerusalem artichoke lost ground. Today, thanks to new fruitful varieties of Jerusalem artichoke, advertising in the media, the culture is returning to the family of food products. In 2000, at the International Conference on Plant Growing, Jerusalem artichoke was named a planetary crop of the 21st century for its medicinal properties, productivity and unpretentiousness in cultivation.
Jerusalem artichoke inflorescences and tubers
In this material, we invite you to get to know this interesting crop better: find out its useful properties, get information about the cultivation and care of Jerusalem artichoke, about its use as food, and also in décor as late-flowering decorative flowering plants.
Jerusalem artichoke, or Tuberous sunflower (Helianthus tuberosus) is a species of perennial herbaceous tuberous plants of the genus Sunflower of the Asteraceae family.
Jerusalem artichoke is known by many synonyms:
earthen pear - for its sweetish taste;
Volga turnip - for a slightly elongated root vegetable that tastes like a cabbage stump;
bulba, boulevard, drumstick - for the resemblance to potato roots;
Jerusalem artichoke - got its name because of the special cooking method in which Jerusalem artichoke acquired the taste of an artichoke.
Useful properties and composition of Jerusalem artichoke tubers
An earthen pear with the taste of cabbage stump, with its external unattractiveness, turns out to be a very necessary and useful garden plant. Jerusalem artichoke tubers of irregular lumpy shape contain a large list of substances and compounds necessary for the body, including inulin - a very important substance for patients with diabetes mellitus. Amino acids contained in Jerusalem artichoke tubers have a positive effect on the human body: arginine, valine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, tryptophan, phenylamine, which are necessary for adults and children:
they stimulate the synthesis of growth hormone,
rejuvenate the body,
are part of the hemoglobulin,
prevent hearing impairment,
regulate sugar levels,
increase protein synthesis,
digested fats are converted into energy,
lower blood cholesterol,
produce enformins, "hormones of happiness."
The list of useful properties of amino acids is complemented by vitamins of group "B" (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7), C, E. Microelements (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, silicon, zinc, iron and others) in combination with vitamins, amino acids, other substances by their action on metabolic processes are very useful, because:
significantly reduce the risk of osteoporosis in the elderly and rickets in children,
improve the function of blood formation,
regulate fluid balance in the body.
Eating Jerusalem artichoke helps to strengthen the immune system, reduces the risk of stroke and heart attack, and reduces salt deposits in the joints.
Jerusalem artichoke in the diet helps to increase the number of bifidobacteria in the large intestine involved in the suppression of the development of pathogenic microflora, including staphylococci, shigella, enterococci, salmonella.
Only a small list of useful substances and their effects on the body testify to the enormous value of this garden plant. In addition to the health-improving effect, Jerusalem artichoke is used as an ornamental plant in landscaping a summer cottage or a house adjoining area. Jerusalem artichoke is a good honey plant, fodder for livestock.
Digging up Jerusalem artichoke tubers
Description of Jerusalem artichoke
Jerusalem artichoke is similar to sunflower in the external structure of the ground part. It is called (like the sunflower) a sunny flower for its ability to turn the inflorescence after the sun.
The underground part of the plant consists of a taproot and underground shoots - stolons, located at a depth of 15-20 cm. At the ends of the Jerusalem artichoke stolons, pear-shaped tubers are formed in their outer shape. Their appearance can also be spindle-shaped, oval, rounded, almost always tuberous.
The ground stem of Jerusalem artichoke is one-year-old, straight, reaches a height of up to 2 - 4 m, rounded-cylindrical, rough due to numerous short hard hairs, dark green, very dense. In fall culture, the Jerusalem artichoke stem is cut into a stump 7-10 cm high.
Jerusalem artichoke leaves are large, rough, petiolate. They cover the stem densely. The leaf blade is dark green, cordate or ovoid. The developed large leaves are slightly drooping.
Jerusalem artichoke inflorescence is a basket. Flowers are yellow or orange-yellow. self-pollinated or cross-pollinated. The earthen pear blooms in September and blooms until November, depending on weather conditions and the region of cultivation.
Jerusalem artichoke fruit - achene, small, grayish-brown color. Inflorescences are often cut to obtain larger tubers. When grown for decorative purposes, they get elegant bushes that bloom until late autumn.
Jerusalem artichoke, or Tuberous sunflower (Helianthus tuberosus)
Biological features of Jerusalem artichoke
Jerusalem artichoke is a culture for a garden without worries:
grows on any soil, except for salt marshes and highly acidified,
does not require maintenance,
does not get sick and is not damaged by pests; very rarely and slightly damaged only by white rot in the lower part of the stems,
does not accumulate nitrates and nitrites in tubers and ground green mass,
Jerusalem artichoke is a short day plant; in the southern regions (the day exceeds 12 hours) flowering occurs late, the seeds do not ripen.
Jerusalem artichoke has edible flowers, young leaves and roots. Moreover, the yield of root crops is excellently preserved in the soil. It can be partially removed in autumn and in the second half of spring, when vitamin deficiency is especially noticeable.
Jerusalem artichoke still has one drawback - it is poorly stored. Unlike potatoes, Jerusalem artichoke tubers lack a cork layer that protects the product from spoilage. This property was the reason for replacing Jerusalem artichoke with potatoes.
Jerusalem artichoke varieties
Given the unpretentiousness of Jerusalem artichoke, plant material can be asked from neighbors or buy several tubers in a store and other retail outlets.
For lovers of Jerusalem artichoke and especially for those with diabetes, we offer varieties bred by breeders that form leveled large root crops with their compact arrangement in the soil, with reduced or increased bushiness, winter hardiness for the northern regions of Russia and other useful qualities.
Early varieties of Jerusalem artichoke
Early varieties of Jerusalem artichoke were bred according to the ripening period:
Early ripening (Skorospelka)/SuperfastGrower;
Kiev white;
Vadim;
Leningradsky/St.PetersburgOne;
North Caucasian;
Find;
Volzhsky-2;
Dietary;
Early ripening Kharkov;
Red;
Fusiform;
Patat and others.
Early varieties are ready for harvest by the third decade of September. Early ripening varieties of Jerusalem artichoke (Red, Patat, Skorospelka, White, Fusiform) can be grown in regions with more severe winters. But in any case, Jerusalem artichoke tubers are not left for wintering in the soil. They are transferred to cold cellars, where they are stored in burlap under a layer of sand, used for food as needed.
You can store Jerusalem artichoke tubers directly in the pits on the site. By these methods, the storage period will be extended to 2.0-2.5 months. Root vegetables are stored in the refrigerator for about a month.
Jerusalem artichoke, or Tuberous sunflower (Helianthus tuberosus)
Late varieties of Jerusalem artichoke
Of the late varieties of Jerusalem artichoke, we recommend:
Interest;
Hybrid 320;
News.
Late varieties of Jerusalem artichoke form a full-fledged harvest by November, therefore, they are not widespread in the northern and cold regions.
Jerusalem artichoke hybrid varieties - topisflowers
Recently, the market offers hybrids obtained by crossing Jerusalem artichoke with sunflower. The culture is called topis flowers. They differ somewhat from Jerusalem artichoke in the external habit and structure of the bushes (shorter, thin-stemmed, with a large number of inflorescences up to 1 cm in diameter, flowers are only yellow). In topis flowers, the tubers are absolutely smooth, and in Jerusalem artichoke, small (like hairs) roots are observed, scattered over the surface of the tuber.
The following varieties of these hybrids are recommended for cultivation:
Delight;
VIR news.
It should be noted that topisflowers retained their medicinal and dietary properties, and from sunflower they enhanced their beneficial properties: they effectively remove salts from the joints if you take medicinal baths from decoctions and infusions of ground fresh or dried mass.
Growing Jerusalem artichoke
Planting and caring for Jerusalem artichoke repeat the potato farming technique. Under the Jerusalem artichoke, a free corner is set aside in a summer cottage or a local area, away from other crops. This is due to its rapid reproduction and the capture of new areas, especially in violation of agricultural techniques for harvesting. Jerusalem artichoke prefers bright places, but successfully grows and develops in the shade and even under a nut, which usually oppresses any crops growing in its zone.
Soil preparation and fertilization
Jerusalem artichoke grows on any soil, excluding salt marshes, alkaline and highly acidic, the optimum pH is 5.5-6.0 units.
The soil for Jerusalem artichoke can be prepared in autumn or spring. For digging, on highly depleted soils, ripe humus or compost is introduced to obtain larger tubers. On medium and highly fertile soils, fertilizers can be omitted or limited to nitroammophos, azofos at the rate of 40-60 g / sq. m area.
Planting Jerusalem artichoke
For planting, choose healthy Jerusalem artichoke tubers weighing 50-60 g. Planting is ordinary with different distances in the row and in the aisles: 50x50, 60x40, 70x35 and others. Tubers are planted in a 7-12 cm soil layer, preferably sideways.
Watering Jerusalem artichoke
In order not to pay undue attention to watering, planting is best done:
in arid regions, into furrows;
in areas with high humidity - on the ridges.
Watering Jerusalem artichoke is not contraindicated, but a special irrigation system is not needed. The roots that penetrate deeply into the soil provide the plant with sufficient water and nutrients. Increased amounts of moisture are needed during the period of tuber formation. At this time, 1-2 waterings are needed. Irrigation is also carried out during a prolonged drought, combining them with irrigation of other crops.
Jerusalem artichoke care
Tubers germinate at a soil temperature of + 4 ... + 8 ° C. The aboveground mass is not damaged by short-term drops in air temperature to minus 6 ° С. Jerusalem artichoke easily tolerates high air temperatures.
Before and after the emergence of Jerusalem artichoke shoots, the soil is kept in a weed-free state by weeding. During the season, 2-3 loosening is carried out mainly in the first half of the warm season.
With excessive moisture, the plants are huddled, deepening the furrows in the aisles. Topinambur dressings are not required. If you want to get a higher yield of tubers, hay or silage, nitroammofoska, kemira, a mixture of complete fertilization are applied in the spring.
With long-term cultivation of Jerusalem artichoke in one place, the overgrown bushes undermine and remove excess shoots (align the rows). Thinning can be carried out to make room for young growth. After this procedure, the plants should be fed.
With age, the crop yield decreases, Jerusalem artichoke tubers become smaller. In this case (if desired) you should work hard. During the period when the old tubers die off, and the new ones are just beginning to form, you need to cut off the ground mass, dig up the soil with a sample of tubers onto a shovel bayonet. During the remaining time before the autumn / spring planting, the site is constantly loosened to a depth of 7-10 cm.
Harvesting Jerusalem artichoke tubers
Jerusalem artichoke harvest
The green mass of Jerusalem artichoke is harvested before the onset of cold weather, leaving hemp 5-8 cm high. Leaves and stems are separate. The stems are crushed before drying. Dried in the shade and stored in bags (not plastic). In winter, they are used for baths. If the green mass is intended for livestock feed, hay is prepared.
Digging in plants during the summer-autumn period, Jerusalem artichoke tubers are used for making salads, first and second courses, medicinal juices.
In the fall, part of the harvest is dug out, leaving the tubers for the spring restoration of plantings. Jerusalem artichoke tubers are stored in cold cellars or earthen pits, covered with burlap, respectively, under sand or earth. The temperature in the cellar is maintained at 0 - + 2 ° С.
You can divide the Jerusalem artichoke harvest into 2 parts. Harvest part of the crop in autumn and use it for food. Remove the second part in the spring, replenishing your menu with fresh vitamins and other healthy substances. Jerusalem artichoke tubers dug up in spring are sweeter and tastier.
If Jerusalem artichoke grows on your site, and even more so is used as a food and medicinal culture, write about it in the comments. Share the secrets of making salads and other dishes, using in landscape culture, medicinal broths, teas, medicinal baths.
