If they contract club root disease, white rot or allium leaf miner, they will be decimated and can transmit the disease into the soil. Others, such as chives, crow garlic and bunching onions, all provide tasty leaves which can be cut, leaving the bulb in the soil.īecause perennials are as prone to disease as annuals, we recommend that you don’t rely on them to provide your whole vegetable output. Most onions and leeks need to be lifted, but some varieties self-seed – creating bulblets which can be planted. Although not strictly perennial, these self-seeders will scatter their seeds in autumn, ready to germinate without your intervention, in the spring. Self-seeding salad leaves - ie miners’ lettuce (purslane, claytonia), lambs lettuce (corn salad), coriander. Use gloves, and blanch to neutralise the stinging hairs. Pick when young, as old leaves have a strong unpalatable taste. Like the dandelion, the leaves are full of nutrients and minerals. The roots can be dried and ground up to make a coffee substitute. The leaves can be bitter, so eat when young. Often overlooked as a leaf vegetable, the leaves are delicious when really young and can be added to salads, as well as stuffed (as in dolmades).ĭandelion - There is probably no need to plant these. Grape vines - Plant in a rich, but well-drained soil in full sun. They can be used in soups, salad and sauces, and to liven any dish which includes spinach. From the polygonaceae family, which includes the common dock, sorrel leaves are rich with potassium and oxalic acid.

Garden sorrel - Grows easily in a moist light soil. Propagation is by layering or root division. The dark green leaves can be harvested for new shoots and leaf growth as soon as they appear in spring. It needs to be planted in rich deep soil. Leafy perennialsĬaucasian spinach - This tall (up to 3 mtrs) variety of spinach type plant is a climbing, scrambling plant with deep tap roots. This helps with lifting the roots, which are thin and sweet tasting, with clumps of leaves that look like a parsnip plant (it is from the Apiaceae family.) Plants can be raised from seed or by root division. Skirret - Plant in a friable, moist soil. New plants can be grown from root cuttings, or from the top of a plant, replanted. The very young leaves are also edible, as are the flowers. The tubers take a couple of years to achieve maturity and a good size. Chinese artichokes have smaller, crustacean shaped tubers and blue flowers which bees love. The following, however, will survive through the bitterest of winters:Ĭhinese and Jerusalem artichokes - Plant in a moist, light soil. Therefore, potatoes, oca and yacon aren’t strictly perennial. True perennial roots and tubers are frost hardy and don’t need lifting. The roots are easily divided for propagation. Flowers are also edible and can be cut like sprouting broccoli. Turkish rocket - Related to the self-seeding Wild rocket, the cut and come again leaves of this Turkish variety have a hot, mustardy flavour. The hot spicy roots are used to add heat to sauces and curries, and the leaves can be eaten when young and not too tough. Once planted, they require little to no maintenance.

Horseradish - These tough plants will grow in most soils, preferring full sun. Tall, upright plants: Nine Star Perennial broccoli, Purple Tree collard (collard is the American name for kale), Jersey Walking Stick cabbage/kaleīushy plants: Daubenton kale, Ewiger kohl (a type of cabbage), African kale (which can also grow tall) Other brassicas include: Pull off a growing shoot, trim the bottom to just below a leaf node and plant it in a pot with a mix of potting medium and grit. You can get some seed online, but perhaps the easiest way to propagate is by cuttings – either from your own, or a neighbour’s plant.See Pests and Diseases for tips on how to manage them. Remember, all varieties are susceptible to the usual brassica pests, such as cabbage white caterpillars, white fly, club root and pigeons.Most plants will survive winter and last for a number of years.To prevent flower heads from seeding, cut and eat frequently – as you would with annual sprouting broccoli.Tall upright varieties need support by tying into stakes. Perennial brassicas, such as kales and cabbages, can be divided into tall, woody, upright plants and low bush-forming varieties.

Here are some examples: Perennial brassicas That’s seed, potting compost, water, fertiliser, all saved – as well as your time! They save you the extra resource needed for sowing, planting and raising new plants every year. Think of perennial veg as a mini permaculture in your organic garden.

Purple tree collard potassium