The majority of vegetable gardens contain annual vegetables, which are grown from seeds or seedlings every year. After harvesting, the soil must be turned, and the process starts again. Why not include some perennial crops in your garden? You can reap the benefits of perennial vegetables year after year without replanting them. Perennials also produce at different times from annuals, so you get a more extended harvest.
The fewer annuals you use, the more self-sufficient and resilient your garden will be. I love planting my lettuce, other staple vegetables, or container gardens filled with ornamental flowers and bulbs. A good portion of my garden consisted of perennials.
Create a wind spinner to add light and movement to your garden.
I am planning my new garden and have decided to create an urban food forest. Food Forests are carefully selected plants that mimic a forest ecosystem to produce the most food and materials possible.
Everything in my garden should be multipurpose. My ornamentals are all medicinal or edible (maybe with some exceptions). I love my bulbs. ).
Vegetable gardens are notorious for requiring the most effort, space, and resources in many parks. When you combine techniques like food forests, successive planting, and perennial vegetables, your garden will become a little powerhouse with little effort.
This list of perennials will inspire you!
Sunchokes taste like an artichoke and a water chestnut mixed.
24 Perennial Vegetables
Here are some of your best perennial vegetables.
Although some vegetables may be more difficult to find than annuals, the effort is worth it because they will return year after year.
- ARTICHOKE
Cynara scolymus
Zones 7-11
Artichokes make a beautiful addition to any perennial vegetable garden. They are also great decorative items. Plus, the plants can produce for as long as five years.
Plant them in a large area because they can grow huge – four feet high and four feet across.
Artichokes prefer full sun and fertile soil with good drainage. Perennials need good soil with drainage to prevent the roots from rotting. This is especially important during the winter.
The buds of artichokes require a lot of moisture to grow. In the absence of rain, water them often.
It takes two years for artichokes to flower. Harvest the artichokes once they are firm and have at least a three-inch diameter. The harvest should be stored in the refrigerator and eaten within two weeks.
If you don’t harvest your artichokes, they will bloom and produce beautiful purple flowers. Cut back the plants, and cover them in thick mulch to overwinter.
The stunning purple flowers that appear when the artichokes are not harvested can be used as edible ornamentals.
- ASPARAGUS
Asparagus orficinalis
Zones 3-10
After the initial planting, it takes a few more years for asparagus to start producing, but the wait is well worth it as it will continue to pay for up to 30 years.
Fresh asparagus straight from the garden is a delicious treat. It doesn’t need to be cooked; snap it and enjoy its deliciousness.
You want to make sure you give your asparagus the best possible start. Plant them in a place with at least 8 hours of direct sunlight and well-draining, nutrient-rich soil.
Give asparagus its bed, without other vegetables growing there, because different plants can choke it out.
Do not harvest asparagus during the first three seasons. When spears reach 5 to 7 inches in height, snap them at the bottom.
Growing your asparagus can save you a lot of money at the supermarket.
- BAMBOO SHOOTS
Bamboo shoots are used in Asian soups and dishes. They come from edible bamboo like Bambusa veris or Phyllostachys edulis. Phyllostachys, a cold-hardy genus of bamboo that produces plenty of edible shoots, is a good option.
Bamboo is easy to grow. Bamboo likes lots of water and sunny conditions. Fertile soil does not require extra fertilizer.
The bamboo shoots will appear from the soil, similar to asparagus. They are tender and grow best in spring. You should cut and harvest them when they first emerge from the ground and are less than 6 inches tall.
The younger the shoots, the better they will taste. With sharp pruners, separate the nodes from their root system. Peel off the outer leaves until you reach the white interior of the shoot.
Bamboo is notorious for becoming out of control. You must control or grow bamboo in a container to prevent it from choking out other plants. You will be fine if you continue to harvest the shoots in their natural state.
- CHICORY
Inulin, a prebiotic fiber supplement in the drugstore, is made from chicory roots. It’s fantastic for gut health. The taproot of the dandelion is very long. It also has an edible violet-blue bloom.
Chicory is a good source of fiber and can be used as a substitute for coffee. To make this drink, the roots are baked, then ground to a powder.
Chicory will self-seed and grow in cracks on the sidewalk.
Plant the seeds as early as spring. Show them only 1/4 inch deep. After the plants have emerged, thin them out about one foot apart.
The soil should be loose to make harvesting easier. Add sand to the mix if you have clay soil or hard ground.
