tuber · transplant · beginner friendly
Sunchoke (Jerusalem Artichoke): how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating sunchoke (jerusalem artichoke) a few times a week needs about 5 plants in ~23 sq ft, worth about $15 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$1.50/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 2 | ~9 sq ft | ~3 | ~$6 |
| 2 people | 3 | ~14 sq ft | ~4 | ~$9 |
| 4 people | 5 | ~23 sq ft | ~6 | ~$15 |
| 6 people | 8 | ~36 sq ft | ~9 | ~$24 |
Spacing
18" in row · 36" between rows
Sow depth
4"
Days to harvest
130 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Apr 24 – Jun 5 | — |
Sunchoke (Jerusalem Artichoke) needs about 130 days and your first frost comes too early for that. Even the earliest date shown will not ripen outdoors here, grow it in a container you can move, or treat it as a short-season variety. | ||
| Zone 4 | Apr 19 – May 31 | — |
Sunchoke (Jerusalem Artichoke) needs about 130 days and your first frost comes too early for that. Even the earliest date shown will not ripen outdoors here, grow it in a container you can move, or treat it as a short-season variety. | ||
| Zone 5 | Apr 9 – Apr 28 | — |
| Zone 6 | Mar 30 – May 8 | — |
| Zone 7 | Mar 15 – Apr 26 | — |
| Zone 8 | Mar 4 – Apr 15 | — |
| Zone 9 | Jan 30 – Mar 13 | — |
| Zone 10 | Jan 10 – Feb 21 | — |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Dig after the stalks die back in fall; frost improves the flavor. They store best left in the ground and dug as needed.
Yield
About 2 lbs per plant over ~3 productive weeks (~2 lb).
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
73 kcal · 1.6 g fiber · 4 mg vitamin C · 429 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Sunchoke (Jerusalem Artichoke) keeps for months in cool storage. See how much to grow and store to feed your household, and how long it keeps.
Sunchoke (Jerusalem Artichoke) planting questions
How many sunchoke (jerusalem artichoke) plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 2 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 5 plants, which takes around 23 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does sunchoke (jerusalem artichoke) need?+
Space plants 18" apart in the row with 36" between rows. Sow 4" deep. Start indoors, transplant out.
When should I plant sunchoke (jerusalem artichoke)?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing sunchoke (jerusalem artichoke) worth it?+
At about $1.50/lb retail and ~2 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $15 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.