Jerusalem artichokes 'Korte Vlaamse Rode'

COMPACT GROWTH! This is a welcome development for growers who find traditional Jerusalem artichokes too tall. Instead of over 2 metres, this variety only grows to 60 cm high and branches widely. The harvest of tasty, red-skinned tubers is remarkably large, and the plants bloom (sporadically) with yellow flowers in late autumn.

The Jerusalem artichoke is a very hardy vegetable. Plant the tubers at the edge of your vegetable garden. The plant can grow up to 2 m high; use them as a windbreak but also be aware of the shade they cast. Mid-season, they can be pruned back for more compact growth and to prevent them from blowing over, though this will slightly reduce the harvest. In late autumn, you harvest the tasty tubers, which taste good even raw. Planting distance 75 x 30 cm, requires 1.5 - 2 kg for 10 m². Tip: place a blanching pot over the plant in spring for tender, blanched first growth! Blanched, cooked or finely chopped in a fresh spring salad, this vitamin-rich crop tastes both bitter and sweet. Add a pinch of salt during preparation to prevent the somewhat bitter taste.

Names:
Latin: Helianthus tuberosus
Dutch: Aardpeer
Also: Jeruzalem-artisjok
English: Jerusalem Artichoke