Jerusalem artichokes are a great plant to include in a maintenance-free garden. Just 100 square feet of them provides enough carbs for a family of four—two adults and two kids—for a year.
Called sunroot by the Indigenous peoples of the North American continent, Jerusalem artichokes are easy to grow and take no more work than planting and harvesting. Six hours of full sunlight will ensure the best yield, but they will also grow in partial shade. They are packed with nutrition, vitamins and minerals. This root vegetable contains inulin, making it a great alternative to potatoes for people with diabetes. It is important to introduce Jerusalem artichokes into your diet slowly because of their amazing digestion qualities. If you eat too many before your body is used to them, they can cause flatulence. Cooking them for four hours in a soup can help people eating them for the first time. Harvesting them in spring also helps with this
You can cook them like a potato or eat them fresh. My favorite recipe is Sunroot Patties (made similarly to potato pancakes,or latkes) served with sour cream, chives and fried apples. You can also cut fresh slices of them or shred them into a salad. They improve gut health, give you energy, support muscles and nerves, and stop spikes in blood sugar levels.