Thank you all, but I found some! I asked my mother-in-law in Atlanta to check Whole Foods and Harry's (both higher end grocery stores) if Jerusalem Artichoke or 'Sunchokes' were sold by the pound in the produce section. Apparently they are and she got me a couple of pounds very cheaply. I'll soak and scrub them as I do ginger to remove any rooting inhibitor and get them a try.

vlron, if you have any tubers left, i'd like a few, i have hosta seeds[5 different kinds];3 different coneflowers or a mixer of different sunflowers. plmk, thanks ahead, molly

That is funny, I would never have thought it could refuse to bloom. I had it for a number of years, and it flowered faithfully. I got rid of it because it was too aggressive for my small garden. The friend who gave it to me let it rampage to its heart’s content over several square yards. It was just a boring green area for most of the year, but when it bloomed, he sat on his high deck, looking out like a king over his own private sea of gold ;-). Both his and my garden have alkaline clay soil. But yes, if it does not work out for you, just find another tall sunflower.

But I guess when you tell the DW that a new food is also called “fartichoke” ….. The chances of her wanting to actually try it out goes way down. I’ll have to remember that. ==>> yeah.. you probably should .. lol.. hilarious.. thx for todays chuckle ... ken