Throughout the summer, my Jerusalem artichokes were thriving. One was really tall – I think it had rooted through the bottom of its container into the ground underneath. Then there was a really windy day and it was uprooted. Then all the top growth died.
When it was really dry in September, the others followed suit. And when I came to dig them up to see what the harvest was like, I found that it had failed. Some tubers had formed, but they were tiny and not worth separating from the root. It may be next to impossible to kill Jersualem artichokes, and they may be very drought-tolerant perennials, but none of mine will make it into the kitchen this year.
I have salvaged two of the roots and planted them (intact) in new compost with a chicken manure pellet feed. I hope that they will grow next year and provide me with enough tubers to plant some more pots next time. If they die off over the winter it will be disappointing, but not the end of the world. Gardeners all over the country who plant their Jerusalem artichokes in the ground will be handing out spare tubers like candy come spring :)