Artichokes, asparagus, rhubarb and strawberries all sound rather fancy, but they are not out of the league of ordinary gardeners. What sets these crops apart is that they are perennials, and although the list is not long, they add another dimension to the vegetable garden.
They include repeat-harvesting crops like sweet potatoes, chillies (in frost-free or sheltered areas), kale in cooler areas and culinary herbs like horseradish, sorrel, fennel, chives, oregano, salad burnet, lemon grass, sage, thyme and rosemary. Even potatoes could be on the list because once you have your own seed potatoes, it’s possible to generate successive crops of potatoes.
Pros and cons of perennial crops
Less demanding: Once established, perennials need far less attention than seasonal annual vegetables. But only if they are planted in deeply prepared soil enriched with compost and organic fertiliser so that the soil is friable and drains easily. That provides the foundation for long-lasting growth.
Once planted, there is no need to disturb the soil, which encourages a healthy soil
