Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
SELECTION CHARACTERISTICS
For success, it is usually necessary to plant selected tubers at a new
site, as even “fully harvested” Jerusalem artichokes often grow back from roots and parts of tubers left
behind at the previous site.
• tuber shape: large, true-to-type, smooth (the smoother the tubers, the easier they are to clean)
• flavor: pleasantly mild, not bitter or soapy
• ease in harvesting: tubers close together in the soil, not spread over a wide area
DISEASES AND PESTS
Jerusalem artichoke is one of the crops least susceptible to disease and is often
unaffected by pests. The chief potential pest problem is herbivory from moles in the winter.
Large, smooth Jerusalem artichoke tubers are the most useful in the kitchen.
CULTIVATION HISTORY
Jerusalem artichoke originated in eastern North America, where its tuber was
used by indigenous Americans long before the arrival of Europeans. It first came to Europe in 1607,
arriving in France and spreading over the course of the century to many other European regions, until,
after about 1750, the potato became the tuber of choice. Many new varieties were created during in-
tensive breeding work in Germany in the 1930s. In the Swiss canton of Jura, soil is hilled up to blanch
the new shoots, which are cooked and eaten like asparagus and are delicious.
SUNFLOWER
Helianthus annuus
The sunflower is one of those plants that are found in nearly every garden, whether as an ornamental,
for cut flowers, or to feed birds. Its name comes not only from its (usually) golden flowers but also
from the tendency of its flower head(s) to follow the sun across the sky every day. Field-scale sun-
flower cultivation is for oil and seed production, with varieties bred for their oil content and seed size,
respectively, being planted. Different varieties may have black, striped, mottled, spotted, white, or gray
seeds, and some wild varieties have small, hairy seeds. Seeds can be eaten raw, sprouted, or roasted,
and young flowers can be eaten as a vegetable. Tall-growing, highly branching varieties with colorful
flowers are popular with home gardeners.
