Perennials? How many species do you grow?

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 25 Apr 2008, 10:56

From this list of 22 (sorry if I missed anything) how many different perennial food plants do you grow?

Rasberries
Blackberries
Blackcurrants
Redcurrants
Whitecurrants
Gooseberries
Rhubarb
Goji berries
Blue berries
Elder berries
Apples
Crab apples
Pears
Cherries
Grapes
Figs
Hazel nuts
Walnuts
Sweet chestnuts
Jerusalam artichokes
Globe artichokes
Asparagus

[Edit to add some of my thinking on this.... Perennial food plants just keep growing year after year with much less maintenance than trying to nurture an annual from seed. I'll admit to making a huge effort over the past two years to increase the variety of perennials I grow, for this very reason.... just call me a lazy gardener!]

Post by **mikepepler** » 25 Apr 2008, 10:58

Only just started the allotment since moving to Rye last summer, so nothing yet... though we are hoping to rent another patch soon and plant fruit trees/bushes.

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 25 Apr 2008, 11:00

But your wood? & Nut trees?

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 25 Apr 2008, 11:31

11 but we've also got peaches, strawbs (if they count) and sorrel if it comes up.

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 25 Apr 2008, 11:36

Arghhhh I forgot strawberries! AND I HAVE THEM too!

And the list is missing peaches, plums and citrus fruits!

contadino · Post by **contadino** » 25 Apr 2008, 11:42

Almonds? Olives? Pomegranates? Apricots? Peaches? ...and like you say, citrus, several types of plums... The list goes on and on. What I'm struggling with is figuring out how to grow things like perennial kale. Aren't perennials of this nature more prone to disease (as they're not rotated) and more difficult to get hold of?

Post by **mikepepler** » 25 Apr 2008, 11:44

Sally wrote:But your wood? & Nut trees?

D'oh! Of course, we have 100 oaks (yes, you CAN eat acorns), and a few thousand chestnut, though they weren't that productive last year - summer wasn't warm enough someone said, and they were poor everywhere. Lots of nuts, but all very small.

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 25 Apr 2008, 12:28

mikepepler wrote:Only just started the allotment since moving to Rye last summer, so nothing yet... though we are hoping to rent another patch soon and plant fruit trees/bushes.

How many woodland owners clear a patch for fruit & veg production? Or is it best to keep it all separate? I suppose most woodlands are either for wood products or amenity, not a flexible 'woodland garden' food source.

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 25 Apr 2008, 12:29

The main 'perennials' in my garden are

Dandelions
ground eldar
Brambles
ivy
daisies

etc
etc

I take the approach of concentrating on blitzing one each year. Last year it was brambles....

SunnyJim · Post by **SunnyJim** » 25 Apr 2008, 12:48

Welsh onions are my latest attempt with perennials....

Anyone got this book;
http://www.DODGY TAX AVOIDERS.co.uk/Perennial-Veget ... 1931498407

If so is it worth the cash?

snow hope · Post by **snow hope** » 25 Apr 2008, 13:05

Sally - can I suggest you edit your original post at the top and add in the items missed first time around?

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 25 Apr 2008, 13:23

21/22
We haven't any blueberries as our soil pH is a bit high.
My favourite is Loganberry - not on the list.

Blue Peter · Post by **Blue Peter** » 25 Apr 2008, 13:40

SunnyJim wrote:Welsh onions are my latest attempt with perennials....

Anyone got this book;
http://www.DODGY TAX AVOIDERS.co.uk/Perennial-Veget ... 1931498407

If so is it worth the cash?

I haven't got it, so I can't say. The American DODGY TAX AVOIDERS has 3 reviews:

http://www.DODGY TAX AVOIDERS.com/Perennial-Vegetab ... 993&sr=8-1

which are all 5 star, and he is co-author of one of the best forest gardening books, so it's likely to be pretty good. There is the problem of how US-centric (or US growing conditions - centric) it is.

Peter.

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 25 Apr 2008, 13:59

snow hope wrote:Sally - can I suggest you edit your original post at the top and add in the items missed first time around?

Hmmmm Might need to redo poll altogether then cos I can't alter the question or the poll options and folk can't re-submit their choice in the light of new info....

So I'll just leave it as it is. It's kicked the conversation off and that really was the aim!

That and some natural curiosity about other folks gardens....

So WHO is the 21-22 vote?
It wasn't me. 19 here, no white currants, figs or walnuts.

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 25 Apr 2008, 14:00

contadino wrote:Almonds? Olives? Pomegranates? Apricots? Peaches? ...and like you say, citrus, several types of plums... The list goes on and on. What I'm struggling with is figuring out how to grow things like perennial kale. Aren't perennials of this nature more prone to disease (as they're not rotated) and more difficult to get hold of?

Ooooops again. Too UK centric!

I've never tried perennial kale...... ummm (adds to list).

PowerSwitch

Perennials? How many species do you grow?

How many on the list in the post below do you grow?

Perennials? How many species do you grow?