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   Jerusalem artichoke, Helianthus tuberosus L., is a species of sunflower indigenous to North America although it got the name Jerusalem artichoke due the corruption of the term girasole, which is Italian for sunflower and literally means sun turning, and a flavor reminiscent of globe artichokes although water chestnuts is a better description when also considering the texture.  To avoid additional confusion with the name they are now often being called sunchoke or sunroot, which is supposedly the translation of the name(s) used by indigenous Indians. 
   Despite it once being believed that the tubers caused leprosy due resembling digits deformed by the disease the tubers are edible and are better for diabetics than potatoes due to carbohydrates being stored as inulin (not insulin) rather than starch, but due to some indigestability of inulin, which is also a source of fructose, this can have an effect similar to that of beans, Phaseolus L.  Sunchokes are easy to grow and do well in any deep rich soil except heavy clay, preferring lots of lime unlike potatoes that become vulnerable to disease in less acidic soil.  Any time after the flowers fade in late summer or early fall the tubers can be harvested although if just left in the ground until needed the flavor becomes sweeter during cooler weather the same as if refrigerated.  For the best results put sunchoke beds in a sunny locations that are out of the way then remove most tubers each year to both keep the soil loose and prevent overcrowding so that the plants have enough room for maximum growth and the tubers are better shaped.  Sunchokes can be slightly weedy since it is difficult to find and remove every tuber thus more plants will likely appear the next year, but the growing plants are relatively easy to eliminate and very young ones can be transplanted if kept moist until they get established.  Occasionally a bed will be damaged or destroyed by voles eating the tubers, groundhogs eating the tops or a fungal disease killing everything thus having several separate plantings will minimize this risk.  I have made attempts at extensive ornamental plantings that could be used as an emergency food source if ever needed, but these planting are invariably destroyed thus I will have no pity on those that are culpable if they ever come begging for food.