Jerusalem artichoke is a type of tuberous plants from the genus Sunflower. It is also called "earthen pear" and "Jerusalem artichoke". The homeland of Jerusalem artichoke is considered to be North America, where it can still be found growing wild, but at present this plant is grown in countries of other continents, since this crop is very valuable and in the future can become a worthy replacement for another tuber - potatoes.
Instructions
Step 1
The upper part of Jerusalem artichoke looks like a plant that vaguely resembles a familiar potato, reaches a maximum height of 2 meters, branches directly, and forms abundant shoots under the ground, on which tubers develop.
Step 2
In an adult plant, the number of flowers collected in inflorescences with a diameter of 2-10 centimeters is abundant. Their color is yellow, orange or reddish. Flowering occurs from August to October. But the roots of Jerusalem artichoke are most often used in the food industry, from which compound feed, powder, molasses and other products are also produced.
Step 3
Jerusalem artichoke tuber looks differently, depending on the type of plant (in Russia, the most common varieties are "Kiev White", "Patat", "Maikop", "Nakhodka", "Skorospelka" and "Interest"). They can be oblong, rounded, turnip-shaped, or elongated with irregular thickenings. In appearance, Jerusalem artichoke resembles a potato only vaguely, but the root vegetable is very clearly guessed in it.
Step 4
The color of the tuber can also vary - deep brown, greyish-earthy or red-orange. Again, everything depends entirely on the variety of the root crop.
Step 5
In total, more than 300 varieties of Jerusalem artichoke are known in the world. So, some of them are distinguished by large and nutritious tubers; others, on the other hand, have small tubers, but abundant green mass, and are intended for livestock feed; still others are grown as ornamental plants.
Step 6
The varieties "Skorospelka" and "Interest" are industrially grown in Russia with an average yield of 25-30 tons of tubers per hectare and 30-35 tons of green mass. Russian breeders also crossed Jerusalem artichoke with its relative, the sunflower, thus obtaining the variety of Jerusalem artichoke "Delight". Its yield is much higher than the original plants - 400 centners of tubers and 600 centners of greenery per hectare.
Step 7
Thus, farmers specializing in Jerusalem artichoke can produce not only a valuable food product for people, but also high-quality animal feed. Currently, this root crop, of course, is a novelty for Russian consumers, not everyone of whom can say with confidence what Jerusalem artichoke looks like. But, due to the increasing spread of this culture, it is highly likely that this state of affairs will change soon.
