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Jerusalem artichoke tuber starts Perennial Powerhouse - $1 (Peck Lenore)
42602 HWY 12
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I sell a quart zip lock bagful of 12 Jerusalem artichoke (sunchoke) bulb starts with eyes for $10 under $1 each and just in time to plant right now. Each plant will make a dozen or more tubers. by year two you will be getting gallons of them each year.
Healthy, plump Jerusalem artichoke (sunchoke) tubers – fresh from my garden in Lenore, Idaho (USDA Zone 6)!
These are a true North American native perennial (Helianthus tuberosus) that Indigenous peoples cultivated for centuries as a reliable food source long before European contact. French explorer Samuel de Champlain discovered them in Massachusetts in the early 1600s and brought them back to Europe because the cooked tubers tasted remarkably like artichokes. The quirky name “Jerusalem artichoke” actually comes from a mix-up of the Italian word for sunflower (“girasole”) – nothing to do with Jerusalem!
Here in Lenore, Zone 6, my plants shot up over 9 feet tall last season with zero special care. They produced a massive 10 gallons of tubers from just a 12-square-foot old cow trough – that’s serious productivity in our short Idaho growing season! This is my 3rd year growing them so they are well adapted. I have a pickled spicy hot canning recipe that is incredible.
Why you’ll love growing them:
Tubers – Crunchy and nutty raw (great in salads or as a water-chestnut substitute). Roast, mash, or add to soups/stews like potatoes – they develop a sweet, artichoke-like flavor. Super nutritious (high in iron, potassium, and fiber) and lower in starch than most root crops. They store perfectly in the ground all winter – just dig as needed!
Stalks – After harvest, dry the tall, sturdy stalks and use them as natural bean or pea trellises. They hold up beautifully for vertical gardening and add that rustic permaculture look. They can be over 1-1/4 inches at the base!
Flowers – Bright, cheerful yellow sunflower-style blooms (2–4 inches across) appear in late summer and fall. They attract tons of bees and pollinators and have a light, pleasant vanilla-chocolate scent.
Leaves – Young leaves are edible (raw in salads or lightly cooked like greens). Rabbits, cows, sheep, and goats go crazy for them – excellent fresh forage or dried for winter hay!
These plants are incredibly hardy (zones 3–9), drought-tolerant once established, and come back stronger every year. They love full sun and poor soil. Just plant the tubers 4–6 inches deep and watch them explode. (Pro tip: Grow them in a trough, raised bed, or contained area because they spread enthusiastically – that’s how I got 10 gallons from one small space!)Perfect for homesteaders, backyard gardeners, or anyone wanting a low-maintenance, high-yield perennial food source that also feeds your animals.
Tubers are cleaned, sorted, and ready to go. Limited supply – first come, first served. Message me with any questions or to arrange pickup in the Lenore area.
Thanks for looking – happy planting! I have a large Rhubarb plant in a 4 gallon pot for $25 too, pie pie PIE.