Content
Planting Jerusalem artichoke in the fall is preferable to planting in the spring. The culture is frost-resistant, the tubers are well preserved in the soil at -40 0C, they will produce strong, healthy shoots in the spring. Planting material in the fall is more viable; the plant does not need to spend nutrients on the formation of stems.
When to plant Jerusalem artichoke: autumn or spring
In areas with a cold climate, spring work is hampered by late thawing of the soil. In order for the fruits to reach biological ripeness, Jerusalem artichoke (earthen pear) needs 4 months to grow. Delayed planting will delay the ripening period. By the time frost sets in, the Jerusalem artichoke will not have time to fully form tubers. If you plant a plant in the ground in the spring, it will produce a full harvest only after a year.
In temperate climates, it is recommended to plant Jerusalem artichoke before winter. Freezing of the root crop will not harm it; as soon as the soil warms up, the plant will enter the active growth phase.Autumn planting is better because the planting material placed in the soil will take root before the onset of cold weather, the root system will go deeper, and there will be no need for constant watering, as in spring.
Spring work is complicated by return frosts; Jerusalem artichoke feels comfortable in the ground at low temperatures, and young growth is sufficiently -4 0C so that she would die. It is difficult to determine the timing of early planting; the crop itself controls the growing season in accordance with favorable temperature conditions.
Freezing of the soil prevents mice from making passages and destroying tubers. Moles and other small pests go into hibernation.
How to plant Jerusalem artichoke in the fall
Jerusalem artichoke is a perennial plant reaching a height of 3.5 m; this factor is taken into account when planting earthen pears on the site in the fall. In order for the seedling to feel comfortable and have time to take root before frost, the timing is determined in accordance with the characteristics of the regional climate. Choose high-quality planting material.
Recommended timing
You can plant Jerusalem artichokes before winter 2 weeks before the onset of frost. If a root crop is planted on a plot and winter comes earlier than expected, there is nothing wrong with that. If you follow the technology for planting Jerusalem artichoke, it will remain viable until spring. In the central zone of Russia, work is carried out at the end of September, plus or minus 10 days.
Site selection and soil preparation
To plant Jerusalem artichoke, you need to choose a site located in open sun. Shade slows down the ripening time of vegetables.You can plant the plant near a fence, which will provide protection from the north wind; this function will also be performed by the wall of the building on the south side.
It is recommended to plant Jerusalem artichoke around the perimeter of the site; the plant will act as a hedge.
The crop grows on all types of soil, but for a good harvest, soils chosen are light, loose, and well-drained. Jerusalem artichoke will not grow in an area with close groundwater. The composition is preferably slightly acidic. Alkaline or saline soil requires correction. Before planting at the end of summer, iron sulfate is added to the soil; it raises the acid level.
The site is prepared 5 days before the autumn planting of Jerusalem artichoke. The bed is dug up, harrowed, you can use a rake. Add compost or peat with the addition of potassium salts and superphosphate. At 1 m2 you will need 15 kg of organic matter, 20 g of fertilizer.
At what depth to plant Jerusalem artichokes in the fall?
Jerusalem artichoke is planted in the fall in several ways. You can plant tubers in a trench on a previously prepared ridge. Here the depth will be at least 15 cm. If the hole is located on a flat surface, the depth should be within 20 cm. The dimensions are indicated for cold regions; in the south, recesses of 12 cm are sufficient.
Tuber preparation
The choice of planting material for autumn work is approached more carefully than for spring planting. The tubers will remain for the winter, and their quality determines how they will survive the winter. Requirements for Jerusalem artichoke seeds:
- The size of root vegetables is no larger than a chicken egg.
- The surface of the tubers selected for planting should be as smooth as possible.
- There should be no stains, cuts or signs of rotting on the surface.
- The structure of the planting material should be rigid and elastic; limp tubers are not suitable for planting in the fall.
Then the root vegetables are dipped into the growth-stimulating drug “Immunocytophyte” for several minutes.
How to plant Jerusalem artichoke correctly in the fall
The root system of Jerusalem artichoke is widely branched; when planting, the height of the stems and the width of the bush are also taken into account. The culture is uncomfortable in cramped conditions. When spreading on the garden bed, measure 40 cm from the first hole to the second, then plant according to this pattern. The rows are filled at intervals of 90 cm. One root vegetable is placed in each hole. For a visual example, the video shows planting Jerusalem artichoke in the fall.
Caring for Jerusalem artichokes in the fall after planting
The culture is not whimsical, so after planting in the fall it grows without special care. When favorable conditions are created, problems with culture do not arise. Caring for Jerusalem artichoke in the fall becomes more difficult if the autumn is long and warm and the plant has sprouted young shoots.
Watering schedule
The culture responds well to moderate watering. In summer, it easily tolerates drought. But before wintering, the supply of moisture increases. Water in the morning every 5 days until frost sets in. Water-recharging watering will help the roots deepen. If the Jerusalem artichoke has not sprouted and is at rest, water the bed with the same frequency, at least 10 liters per hole, the water should be cold.
Loosening the soil and hilling
Loosening is a mandatory procedure after autumn planting. Every day for 2–3 weeks, the beds are loosened. These manipulations give oxygen access to the root and destroy weeds. Loosening involves thinning the planting. If the shoots are dense, leave a distance of 35 cm, the remaining shoots are removed. Densely planted Jerusalem artichoke is prone to degeneration.
If the plant is planted on a hill in a ridge, it is constantly trimmed and topped up. If Jerusalem artichoke germinates after autumn planting, the soil is added to the top leaves.
If the planting was carried out on level ground, the procedures for loosening the soil are supplemented by hilling the young plant. It is covered with soil to the top. In 50% of young shoots, they manage to survive until spring. Those sprouts that are frozen quickly recover. The main task in autumn planting care is to preserve the tubers.
Do I need to feed
When laying the beds, complex fertilizers are applied, which should be enough until spring. Before frost, it is recommended to apply products containing nitrogen. Wood ash is scattered on top of the bed. A week before stopping watering, add an infusion of fermented freshly cut grass with bird droppings (1:10).
Is it necessary to prune Jerusalem artichokes for the winter?
Jerusalem artichoke produces a large mass of shoots and leaves. To speed up the ripening process of the root crop, pruning is carried out closer to autumn, around the beginning of September. Early stem pruning is not advisable. Vegetables in the soil will not have time to accumulate a sufficient amount of nutrients and gain the required weight.
In the spring, the growing season of Jerusalem artichoke is aimed at the formation of green mass; the fruits will not be large and will lose in taste. By autumn, the bush begins to wither - this is an indicator of the ripening of the vegetable. By winter, the tops dry out completely, because the plant no longer needs them. Cut the stems 15 cm higher from ground level; in the spring it will be easy to determine where the bush is located.
Preparing for winter
In regions with warm climates, preparation for winter involves cutting off the stems. The plant is not covered for the winter. Tubers are well preserved and do not lose their chemical composition at a temperature of -40 0C. In temperate climates, Jerusalem artichokes are covered with a layer (at least 15 cm) of leaves, peat, sawdust or chopped tree bark. It is recommended to hill up the plant before mulching. In winter, snow is thrown over the crop.
How to propagate Jerusalem artichoke in late autumn
In addition to tuberous propagation, the following method is used to propagate the crop:
- In the fall, when harvesting, large vegetables are sent for storage.
- Medium-sized root crops are planted in the garden bed.
- A few egg-sized pieces are left in the hole.
- Small ones are completely removed.
Next year, Jerusalem artichoke will produce a harvest in the new and old places.
In the fall, you can propagate the crop by dividing the bush (when thinning dense plantings).
Algorithm of actions:
- Water the bush abundantly.
- Select an area of thickets with well-developed central stems.
- They dig in from all sides.
- Removed from the soil with the root ball.
- Trim off excess roots and shoots.
- Divide the bush into several parts.
- Moved to another place.
After planting, the stems are cut off and the plant is hilled up.
Conclusion
Planting Jerusalem artichoke in the fall will save time for harvesting. Next year the plant will form a sufficient number of large fruits. Tubers planted in the fall retain their germination capacity well and there is no risk of damage by small rodents.
