I was planning to grow some this year for the flowers and the height, as they are helianthus. I hear that, when they are planted in the soil, they can spread like crazy and are hard to get rid of. I don't really want them as a 'forever plant' in the back garden. Has anyone experience of this?
If you want a perennial helianthus for the flowers then maybe the lemon queen variety might be better. Only tried growing from seed last year but the flowers did seem to last longer than the Jerusalem artichoke flowers. I will find out soon how perennial it will be in the garden here but also saved some seed that I will plant soon to see if I can grow more as they seemed like they could be something worth having more of.
The Jerusalem artichoke don't really spread in the way something like bamboo might but they do regrow from even small pieces so clearing them from an area where they have been growing is not that easy. Slugs will usually go for the new shoots but there are enough of these to keep growing in spite of some damage they may get.
@thevictorian thanks for the tip. I think I would find them mildly terrifying.
I have tried Lemon Queen and Helianthus Giganteus but my slug situ meant they didn't return. I thought maybe a very vigorous plant might punch through. It is the height I am after. With a Jerusalem artichoke (sunchoke) you get the benefit of a good veg at the end also. I'll leave it for this year.
We only grow ours in pots. Too invasive for the ground. We cut them back by about 50% in June, which reduces the likelihood of the pots tipping over, and they need less watering.
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