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Sunchoke tubers for planting (Hillingdon UB10) I have a lot of sunchoke tubers (Helianthus tuberosus) that are ready to plant now and will start sprouting soon. Happy to give away as many as I can to anyone who is interested in growing their own food. You'll need a large pot (50 litre or larger ideally) or planter for them. A 50 litre pot can yield 5kg of tubers in the Autumn which at 730 kcal per kg comes out at almost 2 days worth of calories. Even higher yields are possible if they are able to root down into the ground. They will grow directly in the ground but don't do so well in clay soil, are susceptible to wireworms and can spread aggressively so pots are useful to contain them. ▪ Tubers can be used like potatoes but unlike potatoes can also be eaten raw. ▪ Leaves are also edible (unlike potato leaves). ▪ Can be fermented in a 3% salt solution to reduce inulin content. ▪ Can be used to make sugar syrup (boil/simmer sliced tubers and then reduce down water). ~100g sugar per kg. ▪ Leave tubers in the soil until needed or harvest and store in buckets of compost/moist sand. Shelf life is short and they will start to shrivel after a week in the fridge but they keep for months in soil and are good to eat right up until they start sprouting in March/April.

Photo of free Sunchoke tubers for planting (Hillingdon UB10) #1