When to Plant Jerusalem artichoke in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
Also called sunchoke, sunroot.
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Arid / Semi-Arid
In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.
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This Jerusalem artichoke guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Jul to Sep
- Days to harvest
- about 20 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Low
- Spacing
- 35 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 5.8–7.5
Jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes) are one of the easiest and most productive root vegetables for Australian gardens. A perennial sunflower relative that produces knobby, nutty-flavoured tubers underground.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Arid / Semi-Arid
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep P
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Plant tubers about 5 cm deep from late winter so they grow through summer with drip water. Dig from autumn once the tops die back, and leave a few in the ground for next year.
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How to Grow Jerusalem artichoke in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Tolerates almost any soil but produces best tubers in loose, well-drained soil with moderate organic matter. Thrives in sandy loam to clay loam. Grows in poor soils where other crops fail. Deep soil produces larger tubers.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 5.8-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun (6+ hours). Tolerates partial shade but tuber production is reduced. Plants grow 2-3m tall and can shade other crops.
- Spacing
- 35cm apart, 60cm between rows
- Watering
- Drought tolerant once established. Water regularly during tuber formation (summer-autumn) for larger yields. Weekly deep watering in dry spells. Overwatering is rarely an issue.
- Good companions
- Sweet Corn (similar height/culture), Cucumber, Tomato, Sunflower, Pumpkin
- Keep away from
- Low-growing crops that will be shaded (lettuce, strawberry)
- Grow before it
- Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)
- Grow after it
- Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
Give the bed 3 turns before root crops go back in. Roots fork and go leafy in fresh manure, so they take the bed after the heavy feeders have used it.
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Jerusalem artichoke
Recommended Varieties
- Common
- Fuseau
Key Challenges
- Water requirements during summer growth
- Extreme heat
- Sandy soils with poor moisture retention
Pro Tips
- Drip irrigation through summer is essential
- Heavy mulching (10-15cm) to keep soil cool and moist
- Surprisingly productive in arid zones with adequate water
Pests and problems for Jerusalem artichoke in Arid / Semi-Arid
- Powdery Mildew Good air circulation. Avoid overhead watering. Usually appears late enough in the season to have minimal impact on tuber yield. Watch
- Common Garden Snail Watch
- Rust Watch
- Slugs Watch
- Aphids Watch
- Sclerotinia (White Mould) Adequate spacing. Avoid overcrowding. Good drainage. Remove dead stems in winter. Crop rotation if severe (dig up entire patch and start... Watch
Harvesting Jerusalem artichoke
When ready: Harvest after the stems die back from frost or natural senescence (usually May-June). Tubers are mature when plants have flowered and tops begin to yellow. Approximately 140-150 days from planting.
How to harvest: Cut dead stems to 10cm. Dig carefully with a garden fork, starting well outside the stem base. Tubers spread laterally up to 40cm from the main stem. Any tuber left in the ground WILL regrow. Harvest thoroughly if you want to contain the patch.
Storing and preserving jerusalem artichoke
How to keep it
- Refrigerator Storage. Brush off soil (do not wash). Place in a perforated plastic bag or container with damp paper towel in the crisper drawer. Keeps: 2-3 weeks (dehydrate quickly out of ground).
- Dehydrating (Sunchoke Chips). Scrub and slice thinly (2-3mm). Toss in lemon juice to prevent browning. Spread on dehydrator trays. Dry at 55C for 8-12 hours until crisp. Season with salt. Keeps: 6-12 months in airtight container.
- Freezing. Scrub, peel, and dice. Blanch 3 minutes. Plunge in ice water. Drain, tray freeze, then bag. Or roast first, then freeze (better texture on reheating). Keeps: 12 months frozen.
- In-Ground Storage (Best Method). Leave tubers in the ground after tops die back. Harvest as needed through winter and spring. Mulch over the tuber zone (10cm straw) in very cold areas to prevent ground freezing solid. This is the simplest and most effective storage method. Keeps: 4-6 months in ground (until regrowth begins in spring).
- Pickling. Scrub and slice thinly. Pack into sterilised jars with dill, garlic, and peppercorns. Pour over hot pickling brine (1 cup white vinegar, 1 cup water, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp salt). Seal and process in water bath for 10 minutes. Keeps: 12 months (sealed jar).
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Jerusalem artichoke
When do you plant jerusalem artichoke in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Mar to Apr
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Aug to Oct
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Aug to Oct
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Aug to Sep
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Aug to Sep
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jul to Sep
- Mediterranean (Perth): Aug to Oct
What else is jerusalem artichoke called?
Jerusalem artichoke is the usual Australian name. Overseas seed packets and recipes call it sunchoke, sunroot. Same plant, same growing advice.
When should I plant Jerusalem artichoke in Alice Springs?
Plant tubers about 5 cm deep from late winter so they grow through summer with drip water. Dig from autumn once the tops die back, and leave a few in the ground for next year.
What soil temperature do Jerusalem artichoke need?
Jerusalem artichoke germinate best when soil temperature is between 6°C and 25°C.
How do I know when Jerusalem artichoke are ready to harvest?
Harvest after the stems die back from frost or natural senescence (usually May-June). Tubers are mature when plants have flowered and tops begin to yellow. Approximately 140-150 days from planting.
What are the best Jerusalem artichoke varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: Common, Fuseau.
What grows well with Jerusalem artichoke?
Good companion plants for Jerusalem artichoke include: Sweet Corn, Cucumber, Tomato, Sunflower, Pumpkin.
Are jerusalem artichoke salt tolerant?
Only a little. Jerusalem artichoke are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.