5 Must-Grow Perennial Vegetables: Harvest Year After Year... 👩‍🌾 

I’m from the Faroe Islands and my great grandfather brought a ‘Victoria’ rhubarb root back from the UK when he was there selling fish sometime in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. The same plant is still in the family. We have split the roots many times over the years, to get more of them. My grandparents have sold their excess for decades. They often harvest over 100 kg a year. My mom has a more modest garden, and harvests around 10 to 15 kg a year. We moved to Denmark 12 years ago, and my mom took the roots with her to Denmark. It has sentimental value at this point, lol. 😋

My family has a rhubarb plant that’s been around for at least forty years. My grandma planted it.

Haha, you know you're a gardener when your first thought when he's digging is "oooh, that's some BEAUTIFUL soil"

I'm glad you didn't forget asparagus. My great-grandmother planted some on her farm long before I was born, and we still haven't it every year. It just keeps coming back.

5 perennial plants- Globe artichoke Rhubarb Babbington leek Perennial kale OCA -New Zealand yam-Jerusalem artichoke Asparagus

One of my favorite, low maintenance perennial herbs is actually chives. They are practically no maintenance once established, deer-resistant, and reliably are one of the first plants to come up in spring. I also like how they can serve double duty as both a fresh kitchen herb and a lovely, bee friendly ornamental. The one potential drawback is that they will happily self seed, and can take over a yard if not careful. (we started with one, and now we have at least three, and I even split the largest one a few years ago.)

This might sound weird but when I grew up in northern Maine my Memere had a rhubarb field -my sister and I would peel a rhubarb and put some salt on it and eat it as is. It’s sour without the salt but it’s such a delicious snack with it. Weird combo I know but it was normal for us 😂 we’d just be flying by on the four wheeler with a salt shaker and a handful of rhubarb 😂😂

Thank you for including both metric and imperial measures! It really helps.

I just love how his dog is so into this demonstration.

I could easily see this as a weekly serial on a number of home crafting tv channels.

I love how this feels like one of those garden shows on tv. Just needs another character going “oh what are you doing? Planting some artichokes are we?” And some other craft like sewing new pillows or something

I wasn't ready for the "thrusting eruptions of glaucous foliage" *But I'm ready now*

Two plants that I would add are loveage... for that "maggi" flavour... and sorrel... for that sour "lemon" flavour... They'll both grow hearty like weeds and are easy to contain. Over the years, the sorrell may spread and the loveage is easily divided.... so both are easy to share with other growers.

Several of my neighbors in my rural neighborhood in Georgia grew asparagus. I made a raised bed, using railroad ties but now realize that due to the chemicals in the ties, 1 layer of concrete blocks would be better. I bought some asparagus roots from a local feed store, 3 packages, 2 green and one purple variety. I purchased 3 year old roots. I planted them in the fall and had some the following spring. They grew at about the rate of 15 inches a day from April until august. Neighbors had good producing asparagus for about 15-18 years from original planting. I used a mattock to dig five 8 foot long trenches in soft fill dirt . The purple asparagus was the best. To my amazement it turned green in the olive oil and garlic pan. The asparagus grew in about 1/2 inch diameter which is twice the diameter of most store bought. I found out that it should be harvested at 6 to 8 inches tall about 1/2 inch below the surface with a broccoli knife or a cheap hook knife, the dirt is hard on the knife. When it gets 12 inches tall the 1/2 of its length is tough. The last few weeks beginning around august first, stop harvesting, let it grow to about 5 feet and cut it down , I used a 5 horsepower weed eater that I used to trim pasture at the fence line. This growth looks like weeds and is provides necessary nutrients for the roots and allows the roots to grow for the next spring crop. I fertilized it around august first. Had for about 10 years before moving to Florida. It tasted so much better and was softer that store bought asparagus. So easy to maintain, I wish all vegetables were perennial.

I'm in SW Pennsylvania, and can highly recommend the Egyptian/Walking onion. I started with 2 plants on clearance at a nursery, bought on impulse, and quickly graduated to a 5x2 foot "onion patch" that needs regular thinning. The green tops are as tasty as the bulbs, but the bulbs do need to be harvested when they're young, or they get a bit woody. Just leave some for next year and you never run out. I have noticed that, while you can leave the new bulbs at the top of the stems to fall over and root themselves, it pays to spend a few minutes breaking them off and planting them properly. The chopped bulbs and green tops also freeze well. I've seen several varieties offered in seed catalogs. As for perennial herbs, you can never go wrong with spearmint, chive, and oregano.

About 12 years ago, I tried cooking fresh asparagus for the first time, roasting it in the oven. After a lifetime of just eating canned, neither my husband nor I cared for the crisp texture. He was convinced I hadn't cooked them long enough, and maybe he was right, because I tossed them out in the yard and years later noticed a lovely clump of asparagus growing lol

Don’t forget the first year of flowers on an artichoke are often bitter. They get better with age.

I planted my asparagus from seeds, a whole pack of seeds in an 8 gallon grow bag because I got the pack as a free gift with an order...I think every seed sprouted! The next spring the plants were HUGE! I got hubby to pull up the bushes in the brick flowerbed in front of my house and I carefully separated them and hubby planted them in the flowerbed. Five years later and they are still doing great! I did not even expect them to sprout much less do so well in our hot climate. Try growing them from seed, much cheaper and so many more plants...you never know.

I was worried that you won't include asparagus lol. They are without a shadow of a doubt the best perennial ever. Mine is now 4 years in and I had an abundant harvest this year. Raw asparagus straight from the garden must be one of the most delicious veggies around. The abundance of Egyptian walking onions are a close second in my garden. I find potatoes and sweet potatoes almost perennial as well. I planted potatoes 4 years ago and I clearly don't harvest properly as they just keep on coming up every year and strangely I have a better harvest every year. The same with sweet potatoes. Almost like a weed, but thankfully a weed with sustenance. Thank you for drawing attention to the others. I did not know that about certain kales.

In Canada rhubarb grows like weeds! They die off in the winter, but are one of the first things to pop up in the spring! And that’s in -30 weather or lower! Great hardy plant!

My wife and I have been enjoying this "free food" for years.

Can confirm that rhubarb and Jerusalem artichokes are great to grow all the up to Minnesota where I live.

I can't grow in my apartment where I am now living. I love watching you get your hands in the dirt. I feel like I can smell the rich soil. I was at a secondhand shop recently and found an aerogarden. I ordered pods and will give it a try. In the past, I attempted indoor pots and, besides the lack of sunshine, the ever present tiny ants took advantage of the sudden supply of dirt and started carrying it away grain by grain.

A greenhouse tucked away behind the trees, foliage. A beautiful garden. A cute dog. 🙂

As a side note, your dog is awesome and clearly adores you! I love the random cameos 😊. Thanks for your very informative and entertaining videos

I use to garden a lot. My great grandma “lived” in her vegetable garden and my grandma was a wiz with flowers. I loved growing both. I have too many obligations now, taking care of my elderly parents, so no time for gardening. Thank you for your video. It was so nice. There’s nothing like digging in the dirt and watching something wonderful happen. One of my Grandma’s favorite flowers she called Snow on the Mountain. Have you ever heard of it?

I just recently discovered gardening side of youtube and I'm surprised how helpful and nice all these channels are

My 4x great grandfather found a bush of wild rhubarb up on the mountain by which he lived and planted it near his house, this stood here until my grandfather wanted to move it down to his house closer to the highway he had quiet the green thumb so he knew what he was doing and successfully transplanted it, that patch of rhubarb stands at his place to this day so that patch has been in my family for over 150 years

Did you know that thistle can be eaten just like artichoke? Smaller blooms but they look almost exactly like an artichoke but with spines. Harvest before the spines get tough. Cook them the same way. Same family.

Another one is shiso. My wife picks the leaves and shreds them up to add to salads and other dishes. It's got a bit of a peppery taste and the closest thing I can think of is parsley. We had 2 plants last year and this year we had about 40 pop up on their own. Shiso for everyone!

I just have lucked out and planted the right type of kale. I was so surprised to find that it survived winter and was growing beautifully the next year. My kale, thyme, and parsley have all been surviving my Minnesota winters and providing food as long they aren’t buried in snow. My parsley and thyme grow amongst strawberries and a variety of berry bushes. Some dandelions always end up in there too. They are edible as well.

A 95 year old friend from Equador kept raving about OCA. I looked and looked and no one knew anything about them. Finally! He's now passed on, but I remember, trying to find it for him. He kept saying, "You can do anything with it..." Soup, salad, fry, bake...

I've just discovered your channel and I have to say I adore the way your passion shines through in every piece of information you share. Love it, subbed!

I’m attempting to start some heirloom artichoke from seed, I have three babies so far!

Interesting tidbit… asparagus is actually considered a ‘ finger food ‘ serve on a large tray after light-broiling with fresh squeezed lemons and rolled in olive oil, then let everyone pick it up from the hard stem (don’t cut it off ), it’s beautiful, delish and the stem serves as a handle! (of course handle not edible)

I’ve got a flat leaf parsley plant in my garden, which has been going for two years now, including through a really hard last winter. I do keep it a little sheltered in a cold frame, but if I cut it back it just just starts up again. Tastes as good as it did when it was young

This video is destined to become a perennial classic. Well done veggers!

I planted garlic chives 8 years ago and every year they taste better. The first year they were *EXTREMELY* pungent, but by the 3rd year, they had mellowed out to a floral garlic taste, with a hint of green onion. They are also a *PROLIFIC* source of pollen! After mid-summer (up to LATE fall), I can find 5 different pollinators on them at any given time of day. There are 3 different kinds of bees and they each take a section and don't bother each other at all and they don't mind me working directly around them and even rustling the stems. They just fly to a plant that I'm not moving. Lol

I heard a saying: The French spend their money on fine food, the Italians spend their money on fine cloths, and the English spend their money on their garden! Thanks for the video (love the dog!)

My dear old dad has Taunton Deane kale. It is quite a monster size as it is under netting, and it so good to eat. I love this interesting episode. Thank you.

Tempted to grow a globe just for the look of it

Jerusalem artichokes are also known as Fartichokes. Great film,I'm going to get some perenial kale.☺

This guy and his dog are precious ❤

I wish I could act as excited as you do when I'm at work LOL

You've inspired me to plant some artichokes. I had no idea the flowers were so exotic-looking and beautiful as well. I guess another one to add to the list might be fennel? I just planted one but I'm still learning about it.

Also with leeks, you can grow them from the base with roots if you don't cut it down entirely while using it--similar to other onions. So you can actually start with the base of a leek you bought. I plant them every time I buy them, and have a good few dozen growing right now.

WHEN I WAS QUITE SMALL , AND AT THE END OF WINTER THE FIRST VEGETABLE TO BECOME EATABLE WAS OUR ASPARAGUS!! IT WAS A GREAT CHANGE FROM THE CANNED VEGIES!!

Have had a wonderful crop of Jerusalem artichokes this year, fantastic vegetable. Made soup with them today, funnily enough. You did however, forget to mention the consequences of an over indulgence of these. Put it this way, the Beaufort scale needs an extra level !!!!

One can add Perpetual Spinach to the list. Even in cold climates it thrives under a plastic sheet.

Kale is a plant, that eaten alone is not very popular. But a friend gave me a recipe that I really enjoy eating it now. U simmer the kale in water till done. Discard the water as it will have the oxalic acid which is bad for ppl with kidney problems (can cause kidney stones). Then add 2 cups of chicken bullion or stock ( cream it in a blender) then add 1/2 cup heavy cream. Warm & consume. U can also saute' onions & garlic to add to the chicken stock for more flavor. Until I used this recipe I usually made kale salad with dried cranberries & chopped nuts with a great salad dressing. Now I have the soup almost every day.

I love to lightly fry kale in extra virgin olive oil; it makes it easier to scrape it into the bin.

Thank you for sharing all the measurements in both imperial and metric!

I planted rhubarb and asparagus with my great grandchildren in my ♥️& mind. 😊

Amazing list! I can't wait to plant tree onions. Be careful with Jerusalem artichoke, if you're not used to it and you eat a lot at once, it will give you the runs.

That dog watching you is precious.

My granddad had a beautiful crop of Asparagus where he used to throw his tea dregs and sandwich nubs... I honestly think he genuinely had no clue what they were, he just loved the big lacy white flowers it grew... he was a real proper gardener too...just goes to show.. Not sure if he ever ate one on my recommendation but I snaffled MANY MANY beautiful fresh stems!

I love that you mentioned hostas. My family thinks I’m crazy for eating them. I have rhubarb, and I’ve been thinking of starting asparagus too, but I have to get rid of the vinca the previous owner of our house planted.

Stumbled into this guy about two hours ago and now im in a binge, each video just keeps getting better

I grow Yacon as a perennial in North Wales. Easy to grow here. Tasty tubers, eat them raw in winter

In Winnipeg, I grow nettles, green onions, chives, horse radish, rhubarb,lovage, hostas, day lilies, sun roots/chokes, sage,spearmint and other herbs as well as a variety of fruits.

I love it and growing your own food is quite a blessing! I can grow almost anything but artichokes and attracting bees would be great don’t see many anymore…

We have leeks which we often refer to as green onions, growing wild on our property. I harvest the greens and dehydrate them to use throughout the year as seasoning in my cooking. They can be eaten fresh as well and grow very prolifically so there's always plenty.

We planted 2 artichoke this year in Michigan. I had no idea we could winter them! Thank you for the info. We are so excited

I've kept Day Lilies for years, cooking their flowers in stir fries (as a replacement for eggs, which they resemble in flavour). The good thing is, the buds open one by one over a few weeks, and they can be successfully dried for later use. I've heard you can also eat the leaf shoots and tubers as well, haven't tried doing that yet. I suggest a Double-Flowered Day Lily hybrid for larger buds. I eat a lot of perennial leafy plants, among them - Alchemilla, Watercress, Lamb's lettuce, Malabar Spinach (tender perennial), Red-Veined Sorrel, Salad Burnet and a couple of special Dandelions (one specially bred for culinary purpose, the other is a chance seedling that appeared in my garden but has larger, crisper, milder leaves).

Small gardens save the world! The small beautiful gardens beautify the world! Thanks for your helpful video!

my great great grandma planted rhubarb in 1910. there house is no longer standing, all that remains is the cast iron bath tub and the rhubarb in the middle of the desert

Sunchokes love to escape! My Grandpa planted them decades ago and my Dad still pulls them up to this day! We planted ours in the hopefully escape proof green area between our driveway and neighbors.

We had tried growing greens in out small victory garden, the Best and hardiest was Swiss Chard. This stuff easily wintered over in our Central Ohio garden. We have the cabbage whites which ate our spinach and kale down quickly. Seems most of our pest don't like chard I have fresh greens year round now. This year I branched out other types of kale hope it fairs better than the curly leaf stuff

just watching is a pure joy; well articulated, and (damn) what an attitude! ghets the positive vibes right over -- thanks

Thank you for mentioning the lengths in centimeters as well! It's a subtle but useful touch.

My favorite perennial springleaves are Hosta and Hablitzia tamnoides - lightly fried together in butter and sprinkled with lemon. Ahhh! Sets you up for a summer of gardening! 😍😋

Like the ideas. Artichokes and asparagus are the only out of this list I normally grow but always looking to add MORE stuff.

I was too stoned to switch the next video RU-vid tried to select for me, but it turned out to be this one that I watched through. I’m inspired to incorporate onions and rhubarb into my Texas garden spaces next year-> artichoke, as well, will be a virgin experience 👍 I love the way you present your content ❤ Concise as hell.

I just planted 2 rhubarb plants a few weeks ago and they are already starting to shoot upwards. I had no idea that they could endure for so long. It'll be amazing to be able to pass these plants on to my kids. It's exciting to think that they could do the same, enabling the plants to flourish and feed our descendants throughout many more generations.

There's also scalet emperor beans that should live up to 7 years

Getting hold of some of these is a right mission though. My husband compares this to waiting and refreshing the page for Glastonbury tickets in his 20's! 😂

I live in Houston Texas and have tried to grow rhubarb in our terrible heat. No luck....but I've decided that the little spring stems that come before they melt in the heat is a special treat!

Thanks for including plants that grow in cold damp climates. So many videos for more temperate climates than I live in.

I have a nice old asparagus bed that I interplanted verbena bonariensis between rows. It’s really beautiful the way the verbena flowers dance through the delicate asparagus foliage. It’s a great combination to try

I love how you use standard and metric when explaining the distances

I appreciate your dedication to hobby gardening. I try every year but seem to fail. You also remind me of someone who is weirdly overexcited to tell me about gardening at home depot. I love it.

Another one in the US is the Indian Ground Nut. It's not a nut but a tuber. It produces green beans. However, all parts of the plant are edible.

A wonderful video. I love artichokes and grew them successfully in New Mexico. I’ve moved to Zone 5, but plan to get some in my garden next year. Thanks!

Fantastic gardening tips! Looking forward to this year's growing season. Wishing you a lovely week ♡

Thank You - for us Gardeners you're as Great as you can get 🤠 !

The dog at 1:06 is listening attentively: free gardening lesson lol

What a great video! Always wanted a perennial veg patch and might get round to it this year.

Thanks for all this info! You really pack it in. I'm going to have a look-out for some of these I've never heard of! Thank you!

"thrusting eruptions of glaucous foliage" - I'm subscribed! Love it

He said thrusting eruptions with a straight face...bravo, bravo 👏👏

Thanks Ben! My birds love to have their fresh veggies. I grow perennial collards for them.

Sounds like the good news of salvation and the harvest is just about ripe, so let's Rapture up the harvest! ABBA UP!

A SMILE SPEAKS A MILE

Better factual, helpful, useful gardening inspiration than Gardeners World now is! Love the kale suggestion. Thank you.

Wow. Thank u. I didn't know I was growing babbington leeks. I bought these leeks in the shop and regrew from the under part. I have been regrowing them for three years now.

I have never thought of those ornamentals as food, my mind is expanded.

Let's face it: the star of the show is the attentive little puppy.

You are a very admirable person, thanks for the video.

Love how enthusiastic n happy u r about ur garden. Thanks for sharing ur skills! Very nice!

Oh how jealous you’ve made me! I now live in northern Portugal…and many of these are just not available! No rhubarb! 😢 And in the past (before Brexit!) I brought back a few plants. Nope. Didn’t like it here! So I sowed some from seed…great! Until I found a giant toad sleeping in the pot o was growing them in…he totally killed them! I have seen artichoke plants for sale and hope to buy some soon! Both to eat and to let flower as they are so beautiful! I’m used to eating the smaller, pointed artichokes from when I lived in Italy. But I’ve never seen them here…. Thank you for all your inspiration! 🇵🇹🌹🇵🇹