Sustainable Veggie Gardening: Effortless Year-Round Crop Output
Perennial vegetables are becoming increasingly popular for low-maintenance food production systems and thriving in sustainable gardens. These plants offer a multitude of benefits, including improving soil health, adding organic matter, and enhancing soil structure.
One such perennial vegetable is Groundnut, or Apios americana, a perennial vine with edible tubers that boast a nutty flavour. Another noteworthy option is Horseradish, a hardy perennial that can live for 10-15 years, producing roots for harvest in the second year.
Watercress, a cool-weather lover that grows well in containers or ponds, is another excellent choice. For those who prefer warmer climates, Jerusalem Artichoke, or sunchokes, produce crisp, sweet tubers that are perfect for soups, roasting, or raw eating.
Good King Henry, a pest-resistant perennial green, is suitable for salads and cooked dishes. Daylilies, known for their beautiful flowers, also offer edible orange flowers, buds, and young leaves for culinary use.
Perennial vegetables like Lovage, with its unique celery-like taste, and Garlic, with options for softneck and hardneck varieties, are great additions to soups, stews, and salads. Perennial rocket (diplotaxis tenuifolia) can be harvested at any time and prefers poor soils.
Bamboo shoots, though not a vegetable, are worth mentioning for their delicious taste when boiled. Harvesting involves chopping off new shoots around the base of the main plant.
Radicchio, a chicory that grows well in many climates, particularly Zones 3-8, is another option for those looking to diversify their perennial vegetable garden.
Starting a perennial vegetable garden can be done with common varieties or more unusual options. Asparagus, though requiring a few years to get settled, is a reliable perennial once established. Popular perennial vegetables in North America that are often overlooked include sunchokes (Jerusalem artichokes), goodness (also known as groundnuts), and perennial kales like tree kale.
For those interested in growing perennial vegetables, resources are abundant. Top books and websites include "Perennial Vegetables" by Eric Toensmeier, "The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener" by Nikki Jabbour, "Edible Landscaping" by Rosalind Creasy, Permaculture News, Vegetable Growers News, and Growing Interactive.
Nurseries, seed sources, books, and online guides are all readily available for those looking to start or expand their perennial vegetable gardens. Top nurseries and seed companies include Abundant Harvest Organics, Adaptive Seeds, Bountiful Gardens, Fedco Seeds, Horizon Herbs, and Richters Herbs.
Chives are unfussy, easy to harvest, and fast-growing perennial herbs, while Bunching or Egyptian Onions are hardy, easy to grow, and last many years, producing small bulbs with a mild, sweet taste.
Perennial vegetables offer a lot of food with less work and can be a great addition to any sustainable garden. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, consider incorporating perennial vegetables into your garden for a more diverse and sustainable food source.
