BLOG; Harvesting Now

Not wishing to be depressing, but if you have planned well through the year the garden is full of bounty now.  A traditional favorite which has declined in popularity recently and can be harvested now making a delicious addition to roast meals or soups amongst many other uses is the Jerusalem artichoke.  Not having anything to do with Jerusalem its name is rather a corruption of the Greek which describes the way the clear yellow daisy-like flowers turn with the sun.  The Jerusalem artichoke is fairly easy to accommodate in most gardens and can even be put in the flower border, flowering in September through to the frosts. 

Harvesting could not be easier, simply dig up individual stems and collect up the large brown tuberous root.  The uneven look of it is not inspiring at this point but scrubbed and prepared in the kitchen its subtle flavours make up for its appearance.  Remember to put back smaller tubers, as these will be next year’s crop. 

If you fancy the sound of the Jerusalem artichoke but haven’t got it in your garden the good news is now is the ideal time to plant for next year.