With time and patience we can reap the rewards of yearly harvests from a variety of perennial vegetables. They can save you time and money. Who wouldn’t like to have a reliable food crop that requires minimal effort for many harvests? Some do require more work and care than others, but it is so worth it come harvest time.

 Asparagus is an incredible edible perennial vegetable that can be harvested for decades. It does take quite some time to get established, but once it does, you can count on yearly spring harvests. It generally takes on average about 3 years for asparagus to become established.  It is probably one of the most loved spring crops for anyone growing some or those who know what it takes to finally get a harvest. I have read stories or heard form others that they like to start asparagus wherever they are living, even if they are renting or know they’ll be moving soon. They say it is a fabulous gift to leave behind and I have to agree. It would be delightful to find a patch growing in your yard.

Rhubarb is another famous edible perennial that gets treated as a seasonal treasure. It technically is a vegetable, but is used more like a fruit int he kitchen. I remember being excited when we would visit my grandpas house when it was rhubarb season. It meant we could go out back and pick some. It was really the only thing he grew at the time, but it was wonderful. We didn’t really ever buy it, probably due to its price, but getting rhubarb from my grandpas garden was fantastic. It’s a memory I will cherish forever. 

Nine Star Broccoli was a great find while researching this post, I am excited to give it a go in the future. It actually looks more like cauliflower mixed with broccoli raab. It can grow in zones 3-10. Nine Star Broccoli can live for around five years when their heads harvested before they flower. While other peer can last longer, having a brassica that can last 5 years is fantastic. 

These are just a few varieties to get you think about what is possible in your garden. Everything I have mentioned above will grow well in zone 5. I hope this encourages you to try growing edible perennial vegetables. There are many more, including a lot of perennials that are grown for their leaves like sorrel. Maybe you’ll be inspired to start asparagus for yourself or a future tenant.

If you are looking for more gardening help consider booking a coaching session with me where we can go over your specific issues in your garden: Coaching (Coaching sessions are held via zoom.)