Why grow perennial vegetables? Are there enough of them for growing to be worthwhile?
When I began experimenting with perennial veggies (over six years ago now) I hoped that it may be possible to find some varieties that would live in the garden year after year; that would be hardy, productive, reliable and tasty. Following the methods and rationale of forest gardening, and concentrating on the herbaceous /shrub layer I hoped to find a range of practical, useful perennial veggies. I had no idea where the research would lead, but I was determined that if these plants were out there somewhere, then I would track them down.
I now have a range of perennial veggies happily living in the garden which provide food for virtually no work through the year. It has taken quite a lot of work to track them down and learn how to grow them, but that has all been great fun.
I grow them in polycultures which also derives from forest gardening and has the benefits of building up fertility, creating a bio-diverse, nature friendly garden. I am experimenting with perennials and polycultures in various containers as well. I supplement the perennials with some annual vegetables that we love – chiefly summer salad leaves and tomatoes in containers and beans and peas mixed in with the perennials.
Because I have been able to find a useful selection of perennial veggies and produce reliable food from them I have hopes that the “method” I have used can be adopted by others. If you would like to grow at least some of your food with as little input of time and labour as possible and do not mind (or even welcome) a garden that is something of a nature friendly muddle, then you will be able to pick up lots of information from this blog.
I plan to have open days or run day courses about perennial veggies and polycultures and will do specific posts about this in due course.
It would be nice to know a bit about people who find and read the blog – is your interest in perennial veggies, forest gardening, permaculture, transition …………? I love getting comments and feedback and it helps in deciding what to cover in my posts. Also please get in touch to just say hello, or to share the passion for growing perennial veggies, polycultures and permaculture in general. If you want to ask any questions that I may be able to help with feel free to ask and I will do what I can.
If you are not registered as a WordPress user (and may not be able to make comments on the blog) my email address is annisveggies at hotmail dot co dot uk. I love getting feedback and comments!
Best wishes, Anni
Just wanted to leave a note to say hello.
Hello.
I am fairly new to gardening and have a lot to learn, such as what polycultures and permacultures are. I’m looking forward to browsing through your blog to learn about both.
Great blog! I hope to come here for tips on healthy gardening. Unfortunately right now I do not have a backyard, but I will some day.
For now, its only potted plants, mostly greens..
i had a vision in India 2 something years ago about the need to be ready for what is
to come. i have started what was to be community garden alas there is now only me with paid help but still i am learning. FAST.
We actually live on 80 acres in NW Kent which is now buildings converted to offices and workshops but still we do have the land and woodland.
I am looking for people close by interested in transition and of course your project would be a great help to me.
I am due a knee replacement so physically out of action but planning etc., still goes on
Regards
Jane Macdonald
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Hello, I just found your blog as I have just started growing veggies this year. I’ve been using pots on the patio this year to see if I enjoy it and after harvesting 4 lbs of spuds from a patio bag yesterday I am hooked.
I’m not sure what a permaculture is so I’ll go and google it.
I’ll add you to my blogroll, my veggie blog is at http://www.meand2veg.wordpress.com
I’m in Cheshire
Donna
Hi Donna
You may find that the gardening bug gets you more and more! Good luck and thanks for adding me to your blogroll. I just read your posts on veggies and will come back later to check out your other blog.
Best wishes
Anni
Hi annie I love your ideas I have just seen a veg that is a tuber grown like oca and jerusalem artichokes its called something like mishua its a climbing plant that you get tubers from they are trumpet shaped very much like oca in looks but aparently are peppery taisting have you ever heard of them. I also spoke to somone that grows elephant garlic perenially she leaves them in the ground and harvests them when needed as rounds so a single round clove she plants in clumps close together. I will try this have you ever done this.
Hi Gaynor, I think it is “mashua” that you are referring to. No, I haven’t tried it but the guy who writes this blog has – http://landed.weebly.com/garden-blog.html. I had read somewhere else that it was not that nice tasting, but he says it’s like a spicy radish flavour when raw and milder when roasted. They look very attractive as well.
I have tried growing elephant garlic perennially, but it does not like the conditions in my garden much and keeps dying off. Last summer it grew okay when I changed its location, but it died back naturally before I got to harvest it. I am hoping it will come up again in the spring!
Anni
“It would be nice to know a bit about people who find and read the blog – is your interest in perennial veggies, forest gardening, permaculture, transition …………?”
My interest is: Minimal effort, maximum yield.
Hi Robert
Most people who read the blog initially come because they have searched for perennial vegetables in general or a specific perennial.
My own interests are all of the above. I started out finding out about forest gardening and this led me to concentrate on growing perennial vegetables in particular because I don’t have the room for a full blown forest garden. However the garden does have tree and shrub layers and is becoming a mini forest garden.
By concentrating on perennial vegetables and growing them in polycultures I have found ways of producing food (albeit on a small scale) that work in a small patch which is just not suited to “normal” veg growing (too damp and shady).
Permaculture is the context for what I do and how I see a viable future. I am not part of any single transition initiative, but am in touch with lots of transitioners across the country and some overseas. I see transition very much as a means of transmission of ideas and practical help to people who really want to change things.
I have deliberately focussed on what you are interested in – minimal effort and maximum yield because of having limited time and energy and wanting the most for it. I am focussing very much on this aspect and studying / recording what I find out. This is not yet ready to be in the public domain though although it is part of the background to my next post which I am working on at present.
Do let me know if I can assist you in any particular ways. I am always more than happy to do whatever I can.
Best wishes
Anni