Food For Thought Year After Year

Perennial edible plants are the ones that come back year after year, the set-it-and-forget-its of the plant world. They're (mostly) the ones that I stuck in the ground, watered to get them going, and then just let 'em fend for themselves. While I love my summer annuals like tomatoes, basil and squash, the perennials give and give without asking much in return. Gardening with a 1 1/2 year old on my hip or at my side, I'm so thankful for their food producing generosity.

I did a brief survey yesterday of the perennial edibles in our yard and was surprised at just how many things we can eat. Some of them might be considered weeds like wild onions, violets, and dandelions

While some are trees: maples for sugaring (making syrup), apples, figs, and plums. We have an abundance of blackberries, thanks to the birds that eat the fruit and spread the seed. Then there are other shrubby fruits like blueberries and elderberries. Some perennial veggies are unusual for our culture but widely used in other cultures, like hostas (giboshi and Urui) and prickly pear (nopalitos). More common perennial food crops include ostrich fern fronds (fiddleheads), asparagus, rhubarb, strawberries, Jerusalem artichokes/sunchokes, cardoons, and herbs like lemon balm and rosemary.

Have you seen any repeat performers sending up sprouts with the onset of Spring? Any fave food crops that come back year after year? What's new in your plot of dirt?

Renee Garner has a passion to make things grow, although her brownish thumb wants her to believe otherwise. When mud pies aren't on the menu, you can find her doodling the days away at Wolfie and the Sneak.

Comments

[Sarah]

I love rhubarb.
We've also just planted some asparagus, which is a perennial, but it will take a few years to get established.

[Rita]

I have tons and tons of rhubarb that comes back each and every year along with oregano, thyme & chives for my perennials. This year I want to add lingonberries.

[We Know Stuff]

My chives are my favorite repeat visitor. I add them to anything and everything all season long!

[Mama Kimmberli]

Spiderwort - beautiful, plentiful and delish...