Sunchoke (Jerusalem Artichoke) in Zone 6a & 6b
Helianthus tuberosus
When to plant sunchoke (jerusalem artichoke) in zone 6b
Zones 6a and 6b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. Sunchoke (Jerusalem Artichoke) doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 11–Apr 18 |
| Estimated harvest | Apr 10 '28–Apr 17 '28 (First real harvest the season after planting) |
Spacing: about 4 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 6-10 ft.
Sunchokes, also called Jerusalem artichokes despite having no connection to Jerusalem or to the globe artichoke, are a perennial sunflower relative grown for their knobby, nutty-flavored tubers rather than their flowers.
How sunchoke (jerusalem artichoke) fits zone 6's season
Zone 6b's frost-free window runs about 173 days, from April 25 to October 15. Sunchoke (Jerusalem Artichoke) takes about 1 growing season to reach first worthwhile harvest, so what matters here is how many of these seasons it gets, not whether one is long enough.
Sunchoke (Jerusalem Artichoke) is hardy in zones 3-9, so in zone 6b it stays in the ground through winter and comes back rather than being replanted. Allow about 5 ft of spread at maturity.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Sunchoke (Jerusalem Artichoke).
Where to buy sunchoke seeds
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing sunchoke (jerusalem artichoke)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 6b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Sunchoke (Jerusalem Artichoke) in USDA zone 6b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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