Jerusalem artichoke cultivation methods and key technical points

Because Jerusalem artichoke has excellent cold and drought tolerance, you do not need to be too picky when choosing soil; wasteland and sandy land can be used. The dead stems and leaves of Jerusalem artichoke can also decompose into nutrients and improve the soil.

Once the soil is chosen, you can sow. The sowing depth is about 10 cm. During the seedling stage of Jerusalem artichoke, weeds must be removed to create an environment for seedling development.

The whole growth period generally requires two fertilizations, while the watering stage is divided into four key periods: seedling stage, jointing stage, and budding stage.

During the tuber enlargement stage, watering is generally not much needed unless the drought is especially severe, but sufficient moisture can increase yield. In winter, when the aboveground stems and leaves die naturally, the underground tubers can be harvested.

The above is the editor's introduction to growing Jerusalem artichoke in the north. Growing Jerusalem artichoke in the north is quite simple, and friends can try it when they have the chance, because its stems and leaves resemble chrysanthemums, and growing it at home also has the effect of beautifying the house.

Cultivation techniques for Jerusalem artichoke

Land preparation:

Before planting, the land needs to be plowed to make the soil nutrients more balanced, and a rake can be used to level the land.

Sowing:

For seed selection, choose tubers weighing more than 30 g, disease-free and undamaged, as seed. Whole-tuber sowing or cut-piece sowing can both be used. If using cut-piece sowing, it is recommended that the planting row spacing be 50 cm square. Whether using hole sowing or furrow sowing, the depth needs to be about 10 cm, sow one seed, then cover with soil and level the hole.

Fertilization:

There are two types of fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer and organic fertilizer. Apply about 3000-4500 kg of inorganic fertilizer, and 30-40 kg of diammonium phosphate per mu.

Field management:

About 30 days after sowing, Jerusalem artichoke will sprout. After about two weeks, field weeding is needed. Chemical weeding or manual pulling can be used, then carry out the first intertillage. When the seedlings grow to about 15 cm, carry out the second weeding and intertillage. Water at the right time, remove lateral roots, and prevent apical dominance.

Topdressing:

During the growth of Jerusalem artichoke, two topdressings are needed. The first is in late May, about 10 kg of fertilizer each time. The second is at the early budding stage, applying 15 kg of potassium sulfate per mu, and remember to water after fertilizing.

Watering:

If the flowers turn yellow and wilt, be sure to water, but the amount of water should not be too much.

Pest and disease control:

Pests and diseases are a major problem in cultivation. Diseases may cause red spot disease, leaf spot disease, powdery mildew, etc., which can be controlled with a 50% carbendazim 800-fold solution.

How to grow Jerusalem artichoke

Jerusalem artichoke, also known as yam potato and devil's ginger, is a perennial herbaceous plant. How is it grown? Today we will explain the method of growing Jerusalem artichoke.

Ecological characteristics of Jerusalem artichoke cultivation

① Extremely strong cold and drought tolerance: Most desert regions in China are in high-cold zones, with cold climates, long freezing periods, dry climates, and frequent wind and sand. But Jerusalem artichoke has extremely strong cold tolerance and can withstand -40°C or even lower temperatures. However, one point must not be ignored: the tubers of Jerusalem artichoke must be under sandy soil, with at least 1 cm of sandy soil covering them, and must never be exposed above the ground.

Drought and water shortage are normal phenomena in deserts. Even when the drought is severe, Jerusalem artichoke can rely on its astonishing drought resistance to safely get through the difficult period, and in early spring the tubers begin to sprout normally, using their own nutrients and water to support sprout growth. At the same time, they produce a large number of roots that extend throughout the underground to seek nutrients and water to supply the growth of the young seedlings. When the new root system can supply the growth of the young seedlings, the nutrients and water in the tubers can still continue to be stored. Especially in the rainy season, the tubers and root system will store a large amount of water to gradually supply the growth of leaves and stems during drought. The aboveground stems and leaves of Jerusalem artichoke have tissue similar to fine hairs, which can greatly reduce water evaporation. When drought becomes severe to a certain degree, the underground stems will provide as many nutrients and as much water as possible to the aboveground stems and leaves. When the tuber nutrients are exhausted, the aboveground stems die, but the underground stems can still grow new seedlings the following year.

② Wind and sand resistance: Desert regions have strong winds, are dry, and the sandy soil has strong mobility, but Jerusalem artichoke can push out of the ground from relatively deep sandy soil. As long as the covering sandy soil is no more than 50 cm thick, Jerusalem artichoke can sprout normally. To avoid spring sand cover, spring sowing can be done a little later. In autumn, when Jerusalem artichoke is about to mature or has already matured, its dense aboveground stems form a low protective belt, and together with its root system's strong sand-binding ability, as well as the strong pressure on the sandy soil produced by the increase in underground tubers and their greater weight, they jointly play a sand-fixing role. A relevant research institute planted more than 400 mu of Jerusalem artichoke on mobile dunes in the Horqin Sandy Land for sand control experiments, and the results delighted the experts: although during the experiment the region experienced unusual drought, extremely little rainfall, and high temperatures, and the entire crop suffered greatly, the Jerusalem artichoke planted on the desert grew well; when the sand surface was brushed aside, Jerusalem artichoke roots were densely distributed under the sand, and when digging to a depth of 1 m, Jerusalem artichoke roots could still be seen with the naked eye, and had already begun to set fruit, achieving the ecological effects of fixing sand, controlling desertification, and changing the desert. This method of using Jerusalem artichoke to control deserts is called by sand-control authorities the best method with low cost and quick results. In addition, after the stems and leaves of Jerusalem artichoke wither, they decompose into fertilizer, which plays an important role in improving the soil, increasing organic matter content, and improving sandy land structure, thereby creating favorable conditions for returning desert to farmland and forest.

③ Strong reproductive capacity: Using Jerusalem artichoke to control deserts is a one-time effort with lasting results. After one sowing, Jerusalem artichoke in the desert will survive permanently and expand at an annual growth rate of more than 20 times. Therefore, the area of Jerusalem artichoke in the desert will increase year by year. At the same time, some tubers can be harvested from it and used as seed to further expand the planting area. In addition, in areas with a longer growing season, some Jerusalem artichoke seeds can also be harvested, and their germination rate can reach 100%. Even if the Jerusalem artichoke seeds are not harvested, they will drift with the wind to suitable corners of the desert where they can settle.

④ Soil and water conservation: Jerusalem artichoke has a particularly developed root system. Each Jerusalem artichoke plant has hundreds of roots 0.5-2 m long deeply rooted in the soil. Because Jerusalem artichoke can reproduce and expand at a rate of 20 times per year, it takes only 2-3 days to form a protective network on the ground surface woven from Jerusalem artichoke stems and roots, thereby effectively and firmly holding the water and soil of the surface layer.

Cultivation methods for Jerusalem artichoke

① Land preparation and base fertilizer application: After autumn harvest, prepare the land. Apply 5000 kg of farmyard manure per mu, 70% broadcast, and 30% applied in concentrated furrows at sowing; additionally apply 15 kg of potassium sulfate, deep plow 30 cm, and after plowing level and make beds ready for sowing.

② Sowing: After the spring thaw, choose tubers weighing 20-25 g for sowing. Each mu requires 50 kg of tuber seed, with plant and row spacing of 0.5×0.5 m and sowing depth of 10-20 cm. Seedlings emerge about 30 days after sowing. Jerusalem artichoke is sown once a year, and after harvest there are tubers remaining in the soil, so it does not need to be sown again the next year. However, to make the plants evenly distributed, thin out seedlings in overly dense places and replant where plants are missing.

Field management for Jerusalem artichoke cultivation

① Intertillage and earthing up: After seedlings emerge in spring or after rain, weed in time, and combine with intertillage to earth up.

② Watering: The seedling stage, jointing stage, budding stage, and tuber enlargement stage of Jerusalem artichoke are the four key periods for watering. Generally, water for seedling emergence can be applied in mid-April, water for jointing in late May, water for budding in mid-August, and water for tuber enlargement in mid-October.

③ Topdressing: On the basis of applying sufficient base fertilizer, Jerusalem artichoke needs two topdressings during the growth period: the first around late May, applying 10 kg of urea per mu to promote strong seedlings and more new branches; the second at the early budding stage, applying 15 kg of potassium sulfate per mu, and watering after application.

④ Flower and bud removal: During the tuber enlargement stage, remove flowers and buds to promote tuber enlargement.

Harvesting and storage of Jerusalem artichoke cultivation

① Harvesting: After autumn is exactly the period when Jerusalem artichoke tubers grow rapidly. By early October, when the leaves and stems of Jerusalem artichoke are completely killed by frost, the underground tubers can be harvested. Use manual or mechanical methods to remove the Jerusalem artichoke tubers from the soil.

② Winter storage: If the Jerusalem artichoke is to be used the following spring, the Jerusalem artichoke stalks can be cut off after autumn without harvesting the Jerusalem artichoke tubers, but the following spring they should be taken out as early as possible, otherwise they will sprout quickly (they begin to germinate at a soil temperature of 2°C), affecting the quality of the Jerusalem artichoke. Winter storage method: In autumn, dig a shallow cellar, put the Jerusalem artichoke in, immediately sprinkle sandy soil over it, maintain humidity and sufficient ventilation, then cover with 5 cm of soil around it, 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 winter dormancy below 0°C. During winter storage it fears heat but not cold. As long as it is covered with soil, it will not freeze to death even at -50°C, and it can still sprout and grow the following year. Winter storage work should be done according to this principle; as long as the temperature is not high, it will not rot.