Harvest guide
When to harvest jerusalem artichoke
How to harvest jerusalem artichoke
Loosen the soil alongside the row with a fork before pulling, rather than yanking by the leaves. Pulling on the tops snaps them off and leaves the root behind, and bruised roots store badly.
Storing your harvest
Brush soil off rather than washing if you plan to store — a wet skin rots. Keep somewhere cool, dark and slightly humid; a box of barely-damp sand in a shed or garage is ideal.
The mistake to avoid
Leaving jerusalem artichoke in the ground "to get bigger". Past its window it goes woody and splits — size is not the same as quality.
More jerusalem artichoke care
- When to harvest jerusalem artichoke — the species this cultivar belongs to
- When to harvest jerusalem artichoke — our other guide for the same plant
- Full jerusalem artichoke care guide
- How to prune jerusalem artichoke
- How to propagate jerusalem artichoke
- Growing jerusalem artichoke in a pot
- How to overwinter jerusalem artichoke
- Best plant identifier apps — tested and ranked
Harvesting jerusalem artichoke — FAQ
When is jerusalem artichoke ready to harvest?
Lift a test plant once it looks close to size — appearance above ground tells you little. Jerusalem Artichoke is harvested from below ground, so the timing cue is size rather than colour — and the only reliable way to check is to lift one. Ease a single plant up when you think it is close: if it is the size you want, harvest the rest over the following weeks. Roots left too long in the ground turn woody, split, or bolt, and the flavour coarsens.
How do you harvest jerusalem artichoke?
Loosen the soil alongside the row with a fork before pulling, rather than yanking by the leaves. Pulling on the tops snaps them off and leaves the root behind, and bruised roots store badly.
How do you store jerusalem artichoke after harvesting?
Brush soil off rather than washing if you plan to store — a wet skin rots. Keep somewhere cool, dark and slightly humid; a box of barely-damp sand in a shed or garage is ideal.
What is the most common jerusalem artichoke harvesting mistake?
Leaving jerusalem artichoke in the ground "to get bigger". Past its window it goes woody and splits — size is not the same as quality.