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Product Information
| Latin Name | Helianthus tuberosa |
| Hardiness Zone | 3 |
| Height | 8-12 ft |
| Spread | 3 ft or as much as you allow |
| Sun Requirements | Full Sun to Part Sun |
| Average Time to Bear Fruit | can be harvested after one year of establishment |
| Harvest Time | Late fall after a few deep frosts |
| Soil | Adaptable- appreciates fertility but tolerant of most soils |
| Flower Time | June |
| Pollination | NA |
Growing Tips
Plant them in a location with full sun. The soil should be well drained and loose- amending the soil with compost will improve yields. Plant the tubers about 4-6 inches deep and a foot apart. Plant them in their own designated area as they can spread vigorously once they’re established. Keep them well watered and weeded for the first season of growth. Allow them to establish themselves for a full season before harvesting.
More about Sunchoke 'Violet de Rennes'
Sunchokes aka Jerusalem artichokes are one of the most low maintenance, tenacious and productive food sources you can grow. ‘Violet de Rennes’ is purple in colour and is richer in antioxidants than ‘Stampede’ although not as productive. Sunchokes produce a tasty tuber that can be dug up in the spring or late Fall and they are also ornamental as they produce a gorgeous golden flower in October that is sunflower like. Perennial in nature and extremely hardy makes this plant extremely valuable if you’re trying to produce a lot of your own food in cold climates. It has an impressive nutritional profile, and is host to many native insects being a native plant itself. It’s beautiful golden flowers bloom so late in the season, a welcome sight as many perennials are winding down.
Plant it in it’s own space because it does like to spread and once it’s established you can harvest year after year. It can sometimes grow over 13 ft tall! You don’t have to be shy when you harvest either, even when you think you’ve harvested every last tuber they will reappear in the spring as if nothing happened. Some people experience digestive discomfort when they eat sun roots, so if you’ve never eaten them before start with a small amount. We’ve also found that waiting until a few hard frosts have occurred in the fall and then harvesting them is the best way to avoid this. We love to roast them, add them to soups, chicken pot pies, and ferment them. Hardy to zone 3