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Perennial Vegetables

From Artichokes to Zuiki Taro, a Gardener's Guide to Over 100 Delicious, Easy-to-Grow Edibles

by Eric Toensmeier

Table of Contents

Preface

Foreword

Part I: Gardening with Perennial Vegetables

A New Class of Food Plants

• The Species Profiled in This Book

 

• Article: Types of Perennial Vegetables

 

• The Benefits of Perennial Vegetables

 

• Drawbacks of Perennial Vegetables

 

A Note on “Perennials Grown as Annuals”

• Why You’ve Probably Never Heard of Them Before

 

• Article: The Origins of Annual Agriculture in North America

 

• Design Ideas

 

• Perennial Vegetables in the Annual Vegetable Garden

 

• Edible Landscaping

 

• Table: Ornamental Perennial Vegetables for the Edible Landscape

 

• Article: ECHO: A Subtropical Edible Landscape

 

• The Edible Water Garden

 

• Perennial Polycultures

 

• Table: Multifunctional Perennial Vegetables for Polycultures

 

• Article: Permaculture and Perennial Polycultures

 

Naturalizing Perennial Vegetables

• Selecting Species

 

• Sun, Soils, and Water

 

• Table: Perennial Vegetables with Special Tolerances

 

• Climate

 

• Article: Guidelines and Inspiration for Each Climate Type

 

• Table: Tropical Species That Can Be Grown as Annuals in Cold

 

Climates

• Article: Tropical Trees as Dieback Perennials in Zones 8 and 9

 

• Growing Native and Nonnative Species

 

• Article: Rethinking Nonnatives

 

• Techniques

 

Site Preparation

• Table: Soil Amendments: Which, When, and How Much

 

• Article: Sheet Mulching: Instant Eden

 

• Planting and Establishment

 

• Maintenance

 

• Table: Diagnosing Nutrient Imbalances

 

Cultural Practices

• Managing Pests, Diseases, and Varmints

 

• Article: Plant/Replant Perennials

 

• Table: Common Diseases of Perennial Vegetables

 

• Table: Pests of Perennial Vegetables

 

• Article: Plant-Parasitic Nematodes

 

• Table: Varmints of Perennial Vegetables

 

• Article: The Edible Water Garden

 

Propagation

Backyard Breeding

• How to Use This Book

 

• Use Caution When Sampling New Food Plants for the First Time

 

• Article: Understanding Latin Names

 

• How to Read the Profiles

 

• Article: Sample Plant Profile

 

• Onward

 

Part II: Plant Profiles

Alismataceae: The Water-Plantain Family

• Arrowhead

 

• Alliaceae: The Onion Family

 

• Multiplier Onions

 

• Ramps

 

• Other Perennial Alliums

 

Amaranthaceae: The Amaranth Family

• Sissoo Spinach

 

Apiaceae: The Celery Family

• Arracacha

 

• Article: The “Lost Crops” of the Incas

 

• Lovage

 

Water Celery

 

• Skirret

 

Araceae: The Aroid Family

• Edible Aroids (Taro, Belembe, Tannier)

 

• Article: Calcium Oxalate

 

Araliaceae: The Aralia Family

• Udo

 

Asteraceae: The Aster Family

• Chicory and Dandelion

 

• Globe Artichoke

 

• Okinawa Spinach

 

• Sunchoke

 

• Article: Inulin

 

• Fuki

 

• Scorzonera

 

• Yacon

 

Basellaceae: The Malabar Spinach Family

• Malabar Spinach

 

• Ulluco

 

Brassicaceae: The Cabbage Family

• Perennial Brassicas (Cabbage, Kale, and Broccoli)

 

• Articles: Pests of the Brassicaceae

 

• Turkish Rocket

 

• Sea Kale

 

• Sylvetta Arugula

 

• Watercress

 

Cactaceae: The Cactus Family

• Nopale Cactus

 

Cannaceae: The Canna Family

• Achira

 

Caricaceae: The Papaya Family

• Papaya

 

Chenopodiaceae: The Goosefoot Family

• Saltbush

 

• Article: Oxalic Acid

 

• Sea Beet

 

• Good King Henry

 

Convolvulaceae: The Morning Glory Family

• Water Spinach

 

• Sweet Potato

 

Cucurbitaceae: The Squash Family

• Perennial Cucumber

 

• Malabar Gourd

 

• Bitter Melon

 

• Chayote

 

• Article: Extending the Range of Chayote and Other Day-Length Sensitive Plants

 

Cyperaceae: The Sedge Family

• Chufa

 

• Water Chestnut

 

Dioscoreaceae: The Yam Family

• Air Potato

 

• Article: Invasive Pros and Cons

 

• Yams

 

Dryopteridiaceae: The Wood-Fern Family

• Ostrich Fern

 

Euphorbiaceae: The Spurge Family

• Chaya

 

Bull Nettles

 

• Cassava

 

• Katuk

 

Fabaceae: The Pea Family

• Groundnut

 

• Basul

 

• Hyacinth Bean

 

Water Mimosa

• Perennial Beans

 

• Winged Bean

 

Lamiaceae: The Mint Family

• Chinese Artichoke

 

Liliaceae: The Lily Family

• Asparagus

 

• Yellow Asphodel

 

• Camass

 

• Daylily

 

• Giant Solomon’s Seal

  Malvaceae: The Mallow Family

  • Edible Hibiscus

   

  • Cranberry Hibiscus

   

  • Musk Mallow

   

  Meliaceae: The Neem Family

 

• Fragrant Spring Tree

 

Moraceae: The Mulberry Family

• Breadfruit

 

Moringaceae: The Moringa Family

• Moringa

 

Musaceae: The Banana Family

• Banana and Plantain

 

Nelumbonaceae: The Water Lotus Family

• Water Lotus

 

Oxalidaceae: The Wood-Sorrel Family

• Oca

 

Phytolaccaceae: The Pokeweed Family

• Pokeweed

 

• Haitian Basket Vine

 

Poaceae: The Grass Family

• Clumping Bamboos

 

• Table: Clumping Bamboo Species

 

• Running Bamboos

 

• Table: Running Bamboo Species

 

• Article: Rhizome Barriers for Aggressive Running Bamboos

 

• Pitpit

 

Polygonaceae: The Smartweed Family

• Rhubarb

 

• Sorrel

 

Solanaceae: The Nightshade Family

• Wolfberry

 

• Ground Cherry

 

• Pepino Dulce

 

• Article: Pests and Diseases of the Solanaceae

 

• Peppers, Tomatoes, Eggplants, and Potatoes

 

Tetragoniaceae: The New Zealand Spinach Family

• New Zealand Spinach

 

Tiliaceae: The Linden Family

• Linden

 

Trapaeolaceae: The Nasturtium Family

• Mashua

 

Urticaceae: The Nettle Family

• Nettle and Wood Nettle

 

Part III: Resources

Species Selection Matrix

Recommended Reading

Sources of Perennial Vegetables

Sources of Gardening Supplies

Bibliography

Index