How to Grow Perennial Vegetables Low-maintenance, Low-impact Vegetable Gardening

by Crawford, Martin

• ISBN13: 9781900322843
• ISBN10: 1900322846
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-04-05
• Publisher: Green Books

Summary

Perennial vegetables are a joy to grow and require a lot less time and effort than annuals. In this book Martin Crawford gives comprehensive advice on all types of perennial vegetable (edible plants that live longer than three years), from ground-cover plants and coppiced trees to plants for bog gardens and edible woodland plants. There are many advantages to growing perennial vegetables, for example: they need less tillage than conventional vegetables and so help retain carbon in the soil the soil structure is not disturbed in their cultivation they extend the harvesting season, especially in early spring and, of course, they are much less work. Part One looks at why and how to grow these crops, and how to look after them for maximum health. Part Two features over 100 perennial edibles in detail, both common and unusual - from rhubarb to skirret; Jerusalem artichoke to nodding onions. This book offers inspiration and information for all gardeners, whether experienced or beginner, and also includes plenty of cooking tips. It includes beautiful colour photographs and illustrations throughout.

Author Biography

Martin Crawford has spent more than 20 years in organic agriculture and horticulture, and is director of the Agroforestry Research Trust, a nonprofit charity that researches temperate agroforestry and all aspects of plant cropping and uses, with a focus on tree, shrub, and perennial crops. The Trust produces several publications and a quarterly journal, and sells plants and seeds. He is the author of several books, including Creating a Forest Garden and A Forest Garden Year.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall                                                        

Introduction                                                                                                       

Part 1  An introduction to perennial vegetables                                          

1. Why grow perennial vegetables?                                                               

• What is a perennial vegetable?                                                                                                  
• The case for growing perennials                                                                                               

 2.   Growing perennial vegetables                                                                    

• Types of perennial plant                                                                                                               
• Soils                                                                                                                                                 
• Perennial beds                                                                                                                              
• Planting patterns                                                                                                                           
• Perennial polycultures                                                                                                                  
• Perennial grains                                                                                                                            
• Perennial tuber and root crops                                                                                                   
• Perennial vegetables and ground-cover plants                                                                      
• Forest gardens                                                                                                                              
• Growing perennial vegetables under existing trees                                                               
• Growing aquatic perennial vegetables                                                                                     
• Native and non-native plants                                                                                                       

 3.   Maintenance of perennial vegetables                                                         

• Feeding                                                                                                                                           
• Soil pH                                                                                                                                             
• Disease management                                                                                                                 
• Pestmanagement                                                                                                                        
• Harvesting and yields                                                                                                                   
• Propagation                                                                                                                                    
• Maintenance                                                                                                                                   

Part 2 Perennial vegetables A–Z                                                                

Appendix: Common and Latin names                                                             ,

Resources