Jerusalem Artichoke Planting Methods and Precautions Explained
Jerusalem artichoke is a very common food in our daily lives, also known as sunchoke. Planting sunchokes is a cultivation project that began in China a long time ago, though most plantings are small in scale, mainly to meet household consumption needs. However, with the gradual development of the benefits and uses of Jerusalem artichoke, the number of people growing it and the scale of cultivation are also constantly growing.
How to Grow Jerusalem Artichoke
Jerusalem artichoke is a relatively cold-tolerant and drought-tolerant plant that can withstand low temperatures. When growing it, make sure there is plenty of light. Its soil requirements are not high, but acidic soil, swamps, and saline-alkali land are not suitable for planting.
Jerusalem Artichoke Planting Methods and Precautions
1. Weeding
Weeding can reduce competition for nutrients from other plants against Jerusalem artichoke. Especially after the seedlings emerge, gaps should be filled promptly and weeding should be carried out. After sowing, the soil can be loosened at 30-40 days, with the depth kept within a certain range, and weeding done together with soil loosening. Weeding creates good conditions for tuber growth and development.
2. Fertilizing
Jerusalem artichoke itself has low requirements for soil and fertilizer, so it is also fine not to fertilize after it has grown. During the growing period, Jerusalem artichoke needs two top dressings: the first around late May, applying urea to promote strong seedlings and more new branches; the second at the early budding stage, applying potassium sulfate, followed by watering.
3. Earthing Up
After seedlings emerge in spring or after rain, earth up promptly and weed.
4. Watering
Jerusalem artichoke needs watering during the seedling stage, jointing stage, budding stage, and tuber expansion stage. Generally, water once in mid-April, once in late May, once in mid-August, and once in mid-October to promote tuber expansion. In semi-arid central regions with normal rainfall years, as long as there is no severe drought, watering is actually not necessary. If both summer and autumn are very dry, water once in mid-to-late August.
5. Removing Flower Buds
Jerusalem artichoke needs to have its flower buds removed during the tuber growth and expansion period, which can promote tuber expansion.
Jerusalem Artichoke Propagation Methods
I. Jerusalem Artichoke Tuber Propagation Method
Specific steps: after harvesting tubers in autumn and winter, select tubers of about twenty to twenty-five grams for sowing, or they can also be stored in sand for seed preparation. In addition to autumn and winter, after the soil thaws in spring, appropriate-sized tubers can also be dug out for sowing.
II. Jerusalem Artichoke Seed Propagation Method
1. Sowing Time
Propagation by sowing can be carried out in spring, using hole sowing or furrow sowing. After loosening the soil, apply an appropriate amount of base fertilizer before sowing, and after sowing cover with soil and level the holes.
2. Field Management
After the seeds germinate, appropriate top dressing and watering should be carried out. Watering should follow the principle of “dry-wet alternation”, and intertillage and weeding should be carried out. When stems and leaves grow too luxuriantly, the plants can be pinched back to promote tuber expansion. Jerusalem artichoke rarely suffers from pests and diseases. If aphids appear during very dry conditions, they can be sprayed with water.
Harvesting and Storage of Jerusalem Artichoke
1. Harvesting: After autumn, Jerusalem artichoke tubers are in a period of rapid growth. By early October, when the leaves and stems of Jerusalem artichoke are completely killed by frost, the underground tubers can be harvested. The tubers can be removed from the soil by manual or mechanical methods. If Jerusalem artichoke is to be used the following spring, the stalks can be cut off after autumn without harvesting the tubers, but they should be taken out as early as possible the following spring, otherwise they will sprout very quickly (germination begins at a soil temperature of 2°C), affecting the quality of the Jerusalem artichoke.
2. Storage: In autumn, dig a shallow pit, place the Jerusalem artichoke inside, immediately sprinkle sand and soil over it, maintain humidity and sufficient ventilation, then cover the surrounding area with a 5 cm thick layer of soil, and do not let the Jerusalem artichoke be exposed. When storing in large quantities, several ventilation holes can be made with straw bundles. Jerusalem artichoke begins dormancy below 0°C. During winter storage, it fears heat but not cold. As long as it is covered with soil, it will not be killed by freezing even at -50°C, and it can still sprout and grow the following year.
3. Transportation: Jerusalem artichoke is generally packaged in plastic woven bags, which are both breathable and moisture-retaining, and can generally be kept for 10-20 days without problems. Transportation can use truck or railway transport. For truck transport, Jerusalem artichoke should be covered with a tarpaulin to avoid excessive water loss. For railway transport, it is best to use ventilated cars for loading. If sea transport is chosen, Jerusalem artichoke should be placed in a well-ventilated, low-temperature state, and the sea transport time should preferably not exceed 30 days.
Regarding the planting methods of Jerusalem artichoke, the article has already provided a relatively systematic description. However, to master the planting methods of Jerusalem artichoke in a very complete and systematic way, actual planting and the accumulation of experience during the planting process are indispensable. Practice is the source of true knowledge.