Welcome to the weekend coffee share. It is raining and it is not that warm. You’ll need some good outdoor clothing and shoes if you’d like to have a coffee with me in the garden.

It is time to prepare for the garlic that will be planted within the next two weeks.

I weeded, and buried organic matter and compost in the garden beds earlier today. I will add some type of fertiliser as well before planting. I’ll see what I can find locally. Garlic requires a lot of fertilising, both during planting time, and then again several times in the spring/summer.

This weather made me crave a good soup this weekend so I harvested some Jerusalem artichokes. I’d be happy to share some with you. There’s an abundance of Jerusalem artichokes, I can point you in the right direction if you’d like to harvest some yourself. I found a recipe for a soup that I want to try. I have never tried this particular recipe before, but the recipe itself made my mouth water and I am going to give it a try tomorrow. I have grown all the ingredients in this soup at my allotment this year (Jerusalem artichokes, onions, garlic and celery,) it is as if they are waiting to be turned into this soup. Have you tried Jerusalem artichokes? If you have, did you like them? I most often bake them in the oven with other root vegetables, but sometimes I make soup, shred them and use them when I bake bread, or make chips out of them. It is one of the easiest vegetables to grow, and if you accidentally forget one in the ground you will have a dozen next year. The spread very easily and I like to grow them in raised beds, or large pots. One large pot is suitable to plant one Jerusalem artichoke in, it will be crowded! They don’t require much attention at all from planting to harvest. I have never given them extra water, but if you live in a very dry climate you might want to do that. The only fertiliser I give them is grass clippings in the spring and early summer.

I don’t think I’m going to do more in the garden today. Let’s have a refill of our hot beverages before we part.

How is your week? What are you up to this weekend? Thank you Natalie for hosting the weekend coffee share.

Maria

26 responses to “Weekend Coffee Share – Late fall at the allotment”

  1. I don’t think I have ever had a Jerusalem artichoke before.

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    1. You rarely find them at a grocery store since once you harvest them they don’t store well. However, they can be left in the ground indefinitely and harvested as needed, even here where we have harsh winters. I’d say they almost taste better in the spring. Are you brave enough to taste some soup ;)

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  2. I love Jerusalem artichoke soup and would gladly share a bowl with you.

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    1. Wonderful! Do you make Jerusalem artichoke soup yourself? I think I do remember you writing about Jerusalem artichokes at some point? Perhaps you got some in one of your boxes?

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      1. Yes I do make Jerusalem artichoke soup – but have to buy the tubers. It is a great vegetable.

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        1. If you wanted to, you could easily have a pot or two with them at your patio, along with your herbs. I believe it is the easiest vegetables of all to grow…and the flowers are SO pretty.

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          1. Oh! I’ve just looked up where to buy some here and found a place up in Hawke’s Bay – I am now very tempted!

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            1. Wonderful!!! That is exciting!

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  3. I don’t think I’ve ever had JA, but I’ve read they have a kind of nutty taste? As the days grow shorter and cooler, soups and stews are definitely the thing to eat to warm the bones. :) Have a great weekend!

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    1. They do kind of have a nutty taste, but not completely. I honestly don’t know how I should describe the taste, you’ll have to try some soup! It might be a fun vegetable to grow for you? I bet it would do great in your area and doesn’t require much care at all. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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  4. You did a great job in the garden and in the rain. I’d gladly share a bowl of Jerusalem artichoke soup with you. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.

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    1. Thank you! Wonderful :) I hope you like it!

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  5. I’ve seen on YouTube that Jerusalem Artichoke is sometimes called “fartichoke” because it causes one to pass gas more after eating it? I don’t know whether that’s true. I would love to try some though, just to see how it tastes. My only interaction with any kind of artichoke has been pickled artichoke at a taste test in a store. It was too slimy for my liking.

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    1. If you east large amounts, or eat them raw when you are not used to eating them they do cause flatulence. If you’ve never eaten them before it is suggested to start with small amounts.

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  6. Thank you for inviting me into your allotment! I was just walking through my kitchen garden yesterday thinking it’s almost time to dig into my row of Jerusalem Artichokes and see what they’re given me this year! It’s the first year I’ve grown them in the ground instead of in a pot!

    Your soup sounds amazing! Have a bite for me, eh?

    Hope you have a cozy, dry weekend after all that work! Take good care, Maria!

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    1. Thank you! What do you usually do with your Jerusalem artichokes? I don’t know many people that grow them strangely enough.

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      1. I love roasting them with a few other root veggies as a comfort food side dish :-) I love their nuttiness! What do you do?

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        1. Roasting them is definitely a favourite of mine!

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  7. There is nothing like a good rain. I can almost smell the earthy scent of the soil and the damp air. Couple that wet outside time with a bowl of homemade soup, and it’s an amazing day!

    Happy Saturday, Maria.

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    1. I agree! The scent of nature. There is always a scent of pines there as well, we are surrounded by pine forest all around.

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  8. Still giggling at Yinglan’s comment.. I LOVE artichokes but have never heard of Jerusalem artichokes.. I wonder if they would grow in Michigan? Will have to research it. Always love a trip through your garden! Thank you Maria!

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    1. Yes, it made me smile too. I think they would thrive in Michigan. They tolerate almost everything. The flowers are pretty too, they are related to sunflowers.

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  9. Thank you for the coffee and the visit to your allotment. It looks very well-maintained to me! I have never tried Jerusalem artichokes, but I think I would enjoy them in a soup. I love soups made with winter veg.

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    1. Thank you kindly. I have not spent as much time as I usually do at the allotment this fall, it has been busy (we moved in late September).

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  10. Always happy to try a new soup, especially if made with root vegetables!

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    1. That is something we enjoy often at our house.

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