Sunchokes, corn and garden beds

There's been jerusalem artichokes growing in a garden bed for the past four years or so, but mostly they're given away.  The grass grows over them in the dormant seasons, but they've just started to sprout again.  It's been a goal to dig them up and replant maybe eight or so of the best in a different garden bed, clearing this one out.

Uncleared jerusalem artichoke bed

Here's the results of the bed being cleared out.  A full barrow load of jerusalem artichokes.  The problem is that if they're dumped in the compost, or for that matter, anywhere out in the paddock, they'll probably come back.

Unwanted sprouting jerusalem artichokes

This bed along with the two more closer towards the camera, were used for garlic last year.  The small patch to the right in front of the freshly cleared and dug bed at the back, was used for yams.  The rest of it was also cleared yesterday, which just leaves the one right at the bottom of the shot to be cleared.

Freshly cleared bed

I read about someone else who replants their sunchokes, or jerusalem artichokes, at about half a meter apart or some similar distance.  Eight of the best ones I dug out have been replanted at the West end of this bed.

Eight replanted jerusalem artichokes

It took a while to work out what to do with the jerusalem artichokes, and leaving the barrow out in the weather didn't seem very effective.  So an old bit of iron left out in the sun will hopefully do the trick.

Killing the jerusalem artichokes

The jerusalem artichoke bed was dug out further, and for some reason the idea of planting corn was quite appealing.  While this bed is going to be used for Bloody Butcher corn, another is going to be used for Painted Mountain.

Corn seed

As some of the Bloody Butcher seed is quite old, it was sowed quite thickly.  It's easier to thin it out later, than to plant more.

Cown sowing

And finally, covered up.

Corn beds

Next on the agenda are tomatillos, the Painted Mountain corn and brocolli.