Jerusalem artichoke shoots

[deplorabelle]

I was given some Jerusalem artichoke tubers last autumn and I'm feeling very insecure that I will somehow fail to grow these famously easy vegetables (failed once before when I put some in a ridiculously inhospitable spot and got nada).

Should I be seeing shoots yet and if so what do they look like?

They do look like sunflowers. They should come up soon but not necessarily yet. I haven’t noticed any shoots in our garden although one that was on the surface started putting down roots.

Mine are currently looking as dead as a door nail.

They used to be a darn nuisance in my MIL's garden - tried to take over completely - she had light sandy soil.
They refuse to grow in mine - I have clay. It's frustrating because I love them and you rarely see them for sale in the shops.

Mine are still shivering underground. I had loads last year - the local farm shop didn't want them to sell, said nobody bought them. Shame, they are nice, apart from the unfortunate after effects.
mine are prolific, going to dig them up and grow them in potato buckets this year.

Perhaps I was unlucky or did it wrong, but I bought and roasted some recently and they just tasted like mud.

Definitely something wrong!

Nearest I can get to taste is salsify

Just back from the allotment, no buds breaking the surface yet. Down south so northerners can expect to be behind.

Thanks all. I won't worry yet then about non-appearance.

I'm growing mine in big trugs/defunct water butts so I can control them and because I've got quite heavy clay