Buy Jerusalem Artichokes, Grow Sunchokes

I frequent Basha Foods in Calgary because it offers the kinds of grocery items that the larger chains don't... like Jamaican avocadoes (huge, creamy, sweet), jackfruit (fresh IS better than canned), frozen cubes of camel meat (like beef, but more connective tissue, so best when slow-cooked), and so on.

Last week, I picked up a bag of Jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes), which are offered in the produce section for a brief period each spring. In case you haven't tried them, they really do taste like a cross between potatoes and artichokes.

A North American native, the sunchoke deserves more appreciation. It's delicious, low maintenance in the garden, and although you're more likely to find it in eastern Canada, that's Canadian enough for me. Helianthus tuberosus, as it's formally called, is a healthy choice for diabetics and contains potassium, iron, niacin, fiber, protein, and minerals.

Yet, it's not easy to find the tubers if you want to add this species to your garden.

However, following the old adage eat a few, plant a few, I left a few sunchoke bulbs from the store in a bowl on top of my fridge. They were the fortunate survivors, for our family had devoured the rest. In a few days, the tubers were developing a few swollen green bumps, which I interpreted as encouragement for planting in soil. These happy tubers are now tucked away in containers of potting soil in my portable patio greenhouse, to be moved to the garden in May.

I know Calgary may not be the most hospitable place for sunchokes, but perhaps in a year or so I will be blessed with a patch that looks like this.

Happy spring gardening!