Growing Perennial Fruits and Vegetables in Your Garden
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When most people think of growing fruits and vegetables they think of annual plants that you plant, nurture and harvest all in one season. Then you start all over the following year. Growing perennial fruits and vegetables can be a better way to use your land and save you time and money. Once the plants are established you get to reap all the benefits of these amazing plants while doing very little work.
Perennial fruits include all fruit trees as well as berries. Blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries are our favorites. Perennial vegetables that I can think of are rhubarb and asparagus. I'm not sure if you noticed but most perennial fruits and vegetables are much more expensive to buy than annual fruits and vegetables. This is the case at least where I live. I can purchase tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, potatoes, onions, etc. all for under $1 a pound (frequently much less) when they are in season. Even when berries, rhubarb and asparagus are in season and on sale they are much more than $1 a pound. I have never seen asparagus for less than $2.99 a pound here.
Because of the difference in price it makes economical sense to set aside some of your garden for perennial fruits and vegetables. The most important thing before planting though is picking out the best spot. Once planted, these crops are not easily moved. Make sure you plant these foods in areas that they will grow well in.
Perennial fruits and vegetables take time before they start producing edible crops (two or three years is typical). I think this is one reason that people don't plant them. Most gardeners want that instant gratification of annual crops. I want that too, so I have had to find a balance in my garden to allow for both annual crops and perennial crops. There are, of course, specific guidelines for planting each of these perennial foods and I found a great guide here.
Perennial food crops that are placed well and are well cared for will produce a good crop for twenty or thirty years. I know some people don't like to think that far into the future, but when it comes to these delicious foods I believe it is worth it. Aside from the occasional weeding, watering and fertilizer they don't require much work each year. Yet they keep on providing you with wonderful homegrown foods for many years. You really can't beat growing perennial fruits and vegetables.
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breakfastpop - that is one of the beauties of perennial gardening. The stuff is there to stay. Once established, it shouldn't die suddenly because you are out of town for a few days.
When I moved into my VT farmhouse, a neighbor woman came to visit and asked if I was going to pick my rhubarb. I didn't even know it was there, growing near some trees in the side yard. Later on, some asparagus popped up in the front yard! I always thought about the farm wife who planted them.
Hello Jennifer,
Your picture reminds me of an automatic giggle getter with my grandchildren. I always ask them what the plural of asparagus is and off we go.
When I planted my first and way too big garden I had several perennials including asparaguses :-), You are right on and there are very few culinary delights like stuff from you own garden.
Thanks for another great hub. NEIL
Thank you for awonderful hub.
When you plant asparagus it is a good idea to plant them out of the way. Like up against your garage or a shed. This way while you are waiting for them to produce you won't accidently mow them over or dig them up. Like I did. hehe
Great stuff, as always. I've been trying to convince my wife to plant asparagus for some time now. Maybe she'll listen to you? :-)
thanks for the wonderfull information. I forwarded it to my friend that is becoming a gardener.
This is great information and yes asparagus is much higher here also. But tomatoes are over $1 here also much of the time. I wonder why the difference.
Godd info thanks
Very interesting and informative hub. My thinking is that if you are going to garden put a lot of effort in your perennnials!!!!! Thanks Jennifer!
I'll have to check if asparagus grows in Hawaii. I love to eat it so I should give it a try. Aloha!
This is putting me in a Spring mood.
I hate to waste my time on anything but perennials, well except for the easy things like tomatoes,cucumbers... but I was so proud of my blueberries last year I only bought the year before and they were so loaded and I had nothing to do but pick and eat them!
breakfastpop Level 8 Commenter 2 years ago
You make me want to try this, but then I go on a vacation and poof my stuff dies!