Grocery prices continue to climb, and many families are looking for ways to secure a reliable, nutritious, and affordable food supply. One of the easiest solutions is growing your own perennial vegetables that produce abundant harvests with minimal effort. Jerusalem Artichokes, also known as sunchokes, are an exceptional choice.
These tubers are disease-resistant, drought-tolerant, and require very little care or fertilizer. Once planted, they can remain in the soil for months, providing a consistent and dependable food source. For gardeners seeking high-yield, low-maintenance crops, Jerusalem Artichokes are unmatched.
Abundant Harvests with Minimal Effort
Jerusalem Artichokes (sunchokes) thrive in a variety of soil conditions and can grow in areas with limited water. They are remarkably resilient, often producing more than enough tubers to feed a family with just a few plants. Their vigorous growth means you can plant once and harvest over an extended season without constant maintenance.
- Planting: Tubers typically break the soil in mid-May.
- Growth: In warm weather, they can grow up to 1/3 inch per day. By August, plants average 6–7 feet tall, with some sheltered specimens reaching 8 feet.
- Blooms: 1–2 inch diameter sunflower-like yellow flowers appear from August to September, which can also serve as a windbreak or temporary screen.
Heirloom Quality and Historical Value
The Corlis Bolton Haynes Jerusalem Artichoke is a rare Canadian heirloom with over a century of careful cultivation. When Corlis Bolton Haynes’ parents bought a farm in 1925, wild Jerusalem Artichokes (sunchokes) were already growing there. Corlis (1924–2003) spent over 60 years selecting the largest and smoothest tubers for replanting, improving the variety with each generation.
This heirloom tuber offers:
- Consistent size and smooth skin
- Sweet, nutty flavour
- Exceptional resilience and productivity
By planting heirloom Jerusalem Artichokes (sunchokes), you not only enjoy superior taste and texture but also preserve biodiversity and a piece of gardening history.
Why the Corlis Bolton Haynes Jerusalem Artichoke is the Best
The Corlis Bolton Haynes Jerusalem Artichoke (sunchoke) is widely considered one of the best heirloom tubers in Canada because it combines multiple advantages in a single crop:
- Prolific yield: One of the most productive varieties available, ensuring abundant harvests.
- Superior flavour: Sweet, nutty tubers that maintain their taste whether roasted, raw, or pickled.
- Heirloom quality: Decades of careful selection have perfected size, smoothness, and texture.
- Resilience: Disease-resistant, drought-tolerant, and low-maintenance—ideal for home gardens or small farms.
- Historical significance: Preserves Canadian gardening heritage while adding biodiversity to your plot.
Multiple Uses and Culinary Flexibility
Jerusalem Artichokes (sunchokes) are extremely versatile in the kitchen:
- Raw: Thinly sliced in salads for a subtle sweetness and crunch.
- Roasted: Slice and roast with olive oil, herbs, or butternut squash for caramelized, nutty flavour.
- Pickled: Firm texture holds up perfectly for pickling.
- Creative: Try Jerusalem Artichoke and Butternut Fries for a simple, delicious snack.
You can learn more about adding sunchokes to your daily diet in this article.
Ideal for Food Security and Easy Gardening
With rising grocery costs and unpredictable food availability, planting crops that reliably produce abundant food is essential. Jerusalem Artichokes (sunchokes) are ideal for home gardens, small farms, and community food projects. Their resilience, low-maintenance nature, and high yield make them perfect for gardeners who want to grow food security with ease.
Storage Tips:
- Keep tubers in a cool, dark, ventilated space.
- Avoid washing until just before use.
- When stored correctly, they can last throughout the winter, providing a dependable food source.
Bringing Heirloom Quality to Your Garden
Jerusalem Artichokes (sunchokes), especially the Corlis Bolton Haynes variety, offer more than just a delicious, sweet, nutty tuber. They are one of the most prolific varieties available in Canada and a testament to decades of careful cultivation. As a resilient perennial crop, they provide gardeners with abundant harvests, preserve history, and add diversity and flavour to every meal. By growing this rare Canadian heirloom, gardeners enjoy a practical, low-maintenance way to enhance food security while celebrating a piece of horticultural heritage.