Jerusalem artichokes........how many in a 12in x 12in pot??

[killerflies]

Howdy all,

Just planted out 5 Jerusalem Artichoke tubers in a 12in by 12in by 12in self watering container.

Is that too much? Ive since read that one tuber would do.

Is that true? Should I just remove a few of them??

How many tubers would you  expect from a single tuber (or is that possible to tell?)

Cheers indeed!

[killerflies]

[vitaw]

No idea.  I've grown them before--loads of them and just started out with a couple of tubers bought at a church plant sale; they soon multiplied.  I just loved the appearance of the tall, swaying, plants, topped with lovely little yellow sunflowers.  A mammoth crop that resulted in knobbly little potato-like veg.  Despite my culinary efforts never quite tasted that good--but then I didn't keep at it.  I just loved the full look of the crop, and it made a good hedge/screen, but that was years ago, far away from here, and amid a one acre garden.  Memories.

[Eristic]

Even for one tuber that container is way too small.

Yield per tuber when grown in the ground is typically 2kg but can be much more. Plants can grow more than 5 metres tall and require substantial staking.

More info here. Jerusalem artichokes

[Bjerreby]

I'd say that if one tuber grows well in that tin, it will burst.

You put 5 in you say? Get 4 out again quick!

[halibut-t]

Imagine a carrier bag full of harvested crop to the point where you think the handles are going to snap, in a well watered bed that's all from one tiny little tuber :o that's what I've been digging up. As has been mentioned you may find the single tuber in a tin that size will be too much, if you can transfer it in to something about 50% bigger all round that would probably do you.

Please note though, once planned into the ground they are pretty much there for good. I replanted 5 tubers on my plot (same patch of rough ground as the years previous) and about 10 came up  ::) even though I sifted the ground for any strays I must have missed some.

Hope this helps,

[saddad]

Can't argue with that, one was my immediate response to reading the title. They regrow even from tiny bits of stem...  :-X

[killerflies]

Ah right!

Ill get on that straight away so.

Just as well I asked  ;D

[Barnowl]

I plant 8 tubers in 6 sq ft.

[chriscross1966]

I've just got some but have no access to the place I'll be growing them until the conveyancing is done... should I leave them in a paper bag in our garage or should I put them in pots now.... if so how big should the pots be?... greenhouse or coldframe or outside?
ta

chrisc

[saddad]

They dry out easily, so I would pot them up and leave outside... don't want the monsters to grow too much until inh the ground...  :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

I plant them eighteen inches apart, in open ground. Don't put more than one in a pot. I don't know how much of a crop you'll get, but it's worht a try.

[killerflies]

I plant them eighteen inches apart, in open ground. Don't put more than one in a pot. I don't know how much of a crop you'll get, but it's worht a try.

Took out all bar one left in the centre.

Only trying this as all I currently have is a second floor balcony. Just "upskilling" for the time that I have a bit more..........on the ground.

Not looking to feed myself off them,plus they will add a bit of color.

Thanks all for the input but one final question.............

will one tuber produce 1 stalk or multiple stalks?

Cheers!

[saddad]

Usually just one, but have a look at it, does it appear to be sprouting in several places? I wouldn't do this to one in the ground but as you have been firkling in the pot...  :-\

[Eristic]

The number of stalks will depend entirely on the tuber. Usually you get one main stem with a few secondary shoots appearing later in the year but a really knobbly tuber may have many stems.

I do not know if there is any merit in removing multiple stems. I just leave them all to grow.