When to plant Jerusalem artichokes?
For the RHS, plant Jerusalem artichokes in February, March, April and May, 10-15 cm deep, and harvest them in November, December, January and February. Campania, Sicily and Umbria have no sheet, and no month is written.
When, by region
| North | Centre | South | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planting | The calendar marks February, March, April and May. Tubers are sold from late winter to mid-spring. If in late winter or early spring the ground is frozen, sodden or not ready, start them in pots outdoors and transplant in late spring. Harvest marks November, December, January and February. | Umbria's 2025 sheets do not include Jerusalem artichoke, and no month is written. Sunflower in the guide is a different crop. | Campania has no Jerusalem artichoke chapter. Neither does Sicily. Sunflower, where it appears, is the seed crop, not the tuber. |
| Spacing | Tubers 10-15 cm (4-6 in) deep, 30 cm (1 ft) apart along the row. Between rows, at least 1 m (3 ft) if you need a path, or 30 cm (1 ft) for a block. In a pot, one at least 45 cm (18 in) wide and deep, for one or two tubers, at the same depth. The plant reaches 3 m (10 ft). The short variety 'Dwarf Sunray' stays at 120-150 cm (4-5 ft). | Umbria does not write a spacing. | As in the north, until a southern guide writes its own spacing. A density in plants per hectare is not written. |
The tubers are hardy and stay in the ground all winter. In soil that stays sodden they rot.
February, March, April and May, November, December, January and February, 10-15 cm (4-6 in), 30 cm (1 ft), 1 m (3 ft), a pot of 45 cm (18 in), 3 m (10 ft), 120-150 cm (4-5 ft), about 30 cm (1 ft) at earthing up, a mound of about 15 cm (6 in), 1.5 m (5 ft) in July or August, 8 cm (3 in) and the 10 tubers are from the RHS. Campania has no Jerusalem artichoke chapter. Neither does Sicily. Umbria 2025 does not name it. Globe artichoke, same family and little else in common, is in when to plant artichokes. The months are in the January calendar, February, March, April, May, November and December.
From February to May
The RHS grows it from tubers, not from seed, as it does potatoes, and unlike potatoes it is hardy. The planting calendar marks February, March, April and May. Choose firm, smooth tubers, a little smaller than a hen's egg. Set them 10-15 cm (4-6 in) deep, 30 cm (1 ft) apart. A large tuber can be cut, with at least one bud on each piece. If the late-winter ground cannot be worked, start them in pots outdoors and move them in late spring. You can also keep the whole crop in a pot of at least 45 cm (18 in), one or two tubers, with a smaller crop.
Potatoes, with their months, are in when to plant potatoes. Those months do not move across to Jerusalem artichokes.
No month in the centre or the south
Campania, in the 2026 guide, has no Jerusalem artichoke chapter. Sicily, in the 2025 guide, neither. Umbria, in the 2025 sheets, does not name it. Sunflower in the three texts is the seed crop, Helianthus annuus, not the tuber. A planting month and a temperature are not written. February, March, April and May from the RHS, and the packet, still apply.
It takes sun, and it also crops in partial shade, with a smaller harvest. Soil that stays sodden rots the tubers. The plant reaches 3 m (10 ft) and shades the crops next to it. On an exposed spot it can make a windbreak, in several rows. Globe artichoke is in when to plant artichokes.
A tuber that comes back
Once the stems are about 30 cm (1 ft) tall, earth them up, with a mound about 15 cm (6 in) high. In late July or August you can shorten them to about 1.5 m (5 ft), and no further, if the wind bends them. The yellow flowers arrive in late summer and autumn. Taking them off may swell the tubers a little, and the RHS says the gain is modest. In autumn, once the leaves yellow, cut the stems to about 8 cm (3 in) and leave them as markers. Each plant generally gives 10 tubers or more, from late autumn. Leave them in the ground all winter. Frost, the RHS says, improves the flavour. Once lifted they store badly.
A piece left in the soil reshoots in spring. In crop rotation perennials stay in a permanent corner. Jerusalem artichoke is one of those: if you want it gone, every fragment has to come out.
In the app
Every plant in the catalogue has its own sowing calendar, and weather alerts for your area help you judge whether to sow now or hold off.
Frequently asked questions
When do I plant in the north?
The calendar marks February, March, April and May, tubers 10-15 cm deep and 30 cm apart along the row. If the late-winter ground cannot be worked, start them in pots and transplant in late spring.
What dates do Campania, Sicily and Umbria write?
None. The three guides have no Jerusalem artichoke chapter. Sunflower, where it is written, is the seed crop, not the tuber. The RHS months still apply.
How far apart, and in a pot?
The RHS: 10-15 cm deep, 30 cm along the row, at least 1 m between rows if you need a path, or 30 cm for a block. A pot of at least 45 cm for one or two tubers. The plant reaches 3 m, the short variety 120-150 cm.
When do I harvest?
The calendar marks November, December, January and February. Lift them as you need them, and leave them in the ground until then. Generally 10 tubers or more a plant. Once lifted they store badly.
Does it come back the next year?
Yes. Every piece left in the soil reshoots in spring. To stop it, take all of it out. In the rotation it stays in a permanent corner, outside the annual vegetables.