Perennial Vegetables

by Toensmeier, Eric

• ISBN13: 9781931498401
• ISBN10: 1931498407
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-05-16
• Publisher: Chelsea Green Pub Co

Summary

There is a fantastic array of vegetables you can grow in your garden, and not all of them are annuals. In Perennial Vegetablesthe adventurous gardener will find information, tips, and sound advice on less common edibles that will make any garden a perpetual, low-maintenance source of food. Imagine growing vegetables that require just about the same amount of care as the flowers in your perennial beds and borders-no annual tilling and potting and planting. They thrive and produce abundant and nutritious crops throughout the season. It sounds too good to be true, but in Perennial Vegetablesauthor and plant specialist Eric Toensmeier ( Edible Forest Gardens) introduces gardeners to a world of little-known and wholly underappreciated plants. Ranging beyond the usual suspects (asparagus, rhubarb, and artichoke) to include such "minor" crops as ground cherry and ramps (both of which have found their way onto exclusive restaurant menus) and the much sought after, anti-oxidant-rich wolfberry (also known as goji berries), Toensmeier explains how to raise, tend, harvest, and cook with plants that yield great crops and satisfaction. Perennial vegetables are perfect as part of an edible landscape plan or permaculture garden. Profiling more than 100 species, illustrated with dozens of color photographs and illustrations, and filled with valuable growing tips, recipes, and resources, Perennial Vegetablesis a groundbreaking and ground-healing book that will open the eyes of gardeners everywhere to the exciting world of edible perennials.

Author Biography

Eric Toensmeier is the manager of the Tierra de Oportunidades urban farm project of Nuestras Raices in Holyoke, Massachusetts

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
Gardening with Perennial Vegetables
A New Class of Food Plants	p. 1
Design Ideas	p. 9
Selecting Species	p. 21
Techniques	p. 35
Species Profiles
Using This Book	p. 75
Alismataceae: The Water-Plantain Family	p. 78
Arrowhead
Alliaceae: The Onion Family	p. 80
Multiplier Onions
Ramps
Other Perennial Alliums
Amaranthaceae: The Amaranth Family	p. 84
Sissoo Spinach
Apiaceae: The Celery Family	p. 85
Arracacha
Article: "Lost Crops of the Incas"
Lovage
Water Celery
Skirret
Araceae: The Aroid Family	p. 90
Edible Aroids (Taro, Belembe, Tannier)
Article: Calcium Oxalate
Araliaceae: The Spikenard Family	p. 93
Udo
Asteraceae: The Aster Family	p. 94
Chicory and Dandelion
Globe Artichoke
Okinawa Spinach
Sunchoke
Article: Inulin
Fuki
Scorzonera
Yacon
Basellaceae: The Malabar Spinach Family	p. 103
Malabar Spinach
Ulluco
Brassicaceae: The Cabbage Family	p. 105
Perennial Brassicas (Cabbage, Kale, and Broccoli)
Article: Pests and Diseases of the Brassica Family
Turkish Rocket
Sea Kale
Sylvetta Arugula
Watercress
Cactaceae: The Cactus Family	p. 113
Nopale Cactus
Cannaceae: The Canna Family	p. 115
Achira
Caricaceae: The Papaya Family	p. 117
Papaya
Chenopodiaceae: The Goosefoot Family	p. 119
Saltbush
Article: Oxalic Acid
Sea Beet
Good King Henry
Convolvulaceae: The Morning Glory Family	p. 123
Water Spinach
Sweet Potato
Cucurbitaceae: The Squash Family	p. 127
Perennial Cucumber
Malabar Gourd
Bitter Melon
Chayote
Article: Extending the Range of Chayote and Other
Day-Length-Sensitive Plants
Cyperaceae: The Sedge Family	p. 133
Chufa
Water Chestnut
Dioscoreaceae: The Yam Family	p. 136
Air Potato
Article: Air Potato: An Ecological Conundrum?
Yams
Dryopteridaceae: The Wood-Fern Family	p. 141
Ostrich Fern
Euphorbiaceae: The Spurge Family	p. 142
Chaya
Bull Nettles
Cassava Katuk
Fabaceae: The Pea Family	p. 146
Groundnut
Basul
Hyacinth Bean
Water Mimosa
Perennial Beans
Winged Bean
Lamiaceae: The Mint Family	p. 154
Chinese Artichoke
Liliaceae: The Lily Family	p. 155
Asparagus
Yellow Asphodel
Camass
Daylily
Giant Solomon's Seal
Malvaceae: The Mallow Family	p. 161
Edible Hibiscus
Cranberry Hibiscus
Musk Mallow
Meliaceae: The Neem Family	p. 164
Fragrant Spring Tree
Moraceae: The Mulberry Family	p. 165
Breadfruit
Moringaceae: The Moringa Family	p. 167
Moringa
Musaceae: The Banana Family	p. 169
Plantain and Green Banana
Nelumbonaceae: The Lotus Family	p. 173
Water Lotus
Oxalidaceae: The Wood-Sorrel Family	p. 175
Oca
Phytolaccaceae: The Pokeweed Family	p. 176
Pokeweed
Haitian Basket Vine
Poaceae: The Grass Family	p. 178
Clumping Bamboos
Running Bamboos
Article: Rhizome Barriers for Aggressive Running Bamboos
Pitpit
Polygonaceae: The Smartweed Family	p. 183
Rhubarb
Sorrel
Solanaceae: The Nightshade Family	p. 186
Wolfberry
Ground Cherry and Goldenberry
Pepino Dulce
Peppers, Tomatoes, Eggplants, and Potatoes
Article: Pests and Diseases of the Nightshade Family
Tetragoniaceae: The New Zealand Spinach Family	p. 192
New Zealand Spinach
Tiliaceae: The Linden Family	p. 193
Linden
Tropaeolaceae: The Nasturtium Family	p. 193
Mashua
Urticaceae: The Nettle Family	p. 195
Stinging Nettle and Wood Nettle
Resources
Perennial Vegetables for Each Climate Type	p. 201
Recommended Reading	p. 211
Helpful Organizations and Web Sites	p. 214
Sources of Plants and Seeds	p. 216
Sources of Gardening Supplies and Materials	p. 221
Bibliography	p. 223
Index	p. 228
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