The Jerusalem artichoke, also known as sunchoke, originates from North America, which is where it gets its second name. In Ukraine, it has become popular as both a garden vegetable and an ornamental plant. Locally, it is referred to as “bulb,” “Valakhian turnip,” or simply “turnip.”
The Jerusalem artichoke is a perennial plant from the sunflower family. Its upright stem can reach heights of 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) and becomes semi-woody as it matures. The leaves are petiolate, pointed, and densely covered with hairs. In some years, it produces flowers that are light yellow and grouped in clusters. Its root system penetrates deeply into the soil, producing tubers that can be white, pink, or brown in color. These tubers are round, pear-shaped, or elongated. The plant is cultivated primarily for its tubers, which have a nutritional value similar to that of potatoes. Instead of starch, it stores inulin—a valuable food product for diabetics.
Jerusalem artichokes are not picky about soil conditions. They thrive in black soil, sod-podzolic, and sandy soils. They are cold-resistant, able to withstand frosts down to 23°F (-5°C) in spring and fall, and they winter well in the ground.
Planting occurs in spring or fall in clusters (60×60 cm in Polissya, 70×70 cm in the Forest-Steppe, and 80×80 cm in the Steppe) at a depth of 3-4 inches (7-8 cm), with two tubers per cluster. After planting and once the shoots appear, the area is harrowed, and the inter-row spaces are loosened several times. Tubers are harvested in the fall and stored in vegetable storage facilities or heaps. For spring use, they are dug up after the soil thaws. Tubers left in the ground over winter become tastier and sweeter in the spring. It is believed that Jerusalem artichokes can grow in the same spot for up to a hundred years. The yield of tubers varies depending on the region and growing conditions, ranging from 4,000 to 6,700 pounds (180-300 centners) per hectare.
The stems of the Jerusalem artichoke also serve as excellent nutritious feed for livestock.