When to Plant Jerusalem artichoke in Cairns, Tropical Guide

Also called sunchoke, sunroot.

Out of season. Next window opens in March Soil 24.7°C, best 6–25°C

Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.

What this month normally looks like in Tropical

In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.

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  1. Planting calendar
  2. How to grow
  3. Local tips and varieties
  4. Pests and problems
  5. Harvesting
  6. Storing and preserving
  7. Other zones and related crops
  8. Common questions

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This Jerusalem artichoke guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Planting window
Mar to Apr
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.

Jerusalem artichoke

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Best Planting Window for Tropical

  • Jan -
  • Feb -
  • Mar P
  • Apr P
  • May -
  • Jun -
  • Jul -
  • Aug -
  • Sep -
  • Oct -
  • Nov -
  • Dec -

P = Planting window

Jerusalem artichokes are not really recommended for the tropics, and heat and wet season humidity cut yields. If you want to try, plant tubers as the wet eases and dig them when the tops die down late in the dry.

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How to Grow Jerusalem artichoke in Tropical 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.

Members see the exact salt threshold, how much harvest it loses as salt rises, and what to grow instead. See what members get

Tropical Growing Tips for Jerusalem artichoke

Recommended Varieties

  • Fuseau (smoother tubers)
  • Common (knobby but productive)

Key Challenges

  • Excessive rain causing stem rot
  • Heat stress reducing tuber size
  • Plants may not trigger tuber formation without cool conditions

Pro Tips

  • Marginal in true tropical zones. Tuber formation is triggered by shortening days and cool weather
  • Plant in the drier months and harvest before the next wet season
  • Raised beds essential for drainage

Pests and problems for Jerusalem artichoke in Tropical

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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).

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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

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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:

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 Cairns?

Jerusalem artichokes are not really recommended for the tropics, and heat and wet season humidity cut yields. If you want to try, plant tubers as the wet eases and dig them when the tops die down late in the dry.

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 Cairns?

Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Fuseau (smoother tubers), Common (knobby but productive).

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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.