Around The World in 80 Plants: An Edible Perennial Vegetable Adventure For Temperate Climates. By Stephen Barstow. 1st ed, 2014. 304 pages. This book is such a gem. In Around the World in 80 Plants, Barstow shows us how many (80!) perennial vegetables can be easily integrated into our gardens and diets. The book includes…
Cynara cardunculus. Perennial in zones 7-10. Related to the artichoke but grown instead for the leaf midribs (technically petioles) that are eaten after blanching. White, thornless leaf midribs grow tall and are extra thick. Vigorous upright growth results in partial self-blanching, giving Plein Blanc Inerme Blanco Cardoon a higher culinary value than more traditional varieties….
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Foeniculum vulgare. 80 days. Another stellar bulbing/Florence fennel with an excellent sweet anise-like flavor that mellows with cooking. In organic farm trials throughout western Oregon, Selma Fino is usually the sweetest tasting. Takes about 80 days to form full-sized bulbs, however it can be harvested sooner at a smaller size. Very white bulbs are fairly…
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Allium fistulosum. Green Onion / Scallion. 65 days. A unique bunching onion from Thailand. Ton Hom Nuan green onion surprised us in its ability to produce tons of small green onions that are perfect for soups, stir frying, and sprinkling into salads. Unlike many Japanese negi type bunching onions, Ton Hom Nuan tend to hold…
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Allium fistulosum. Green Onion / Scallion. 60 days. Andrew’s favorite green onion! Dependably produces beautiful bunches of green onions. Upright growth with no flopping, vigorous and easy to clean. So perfect that you don’t even need to cut the tops off. Bright green leaves and white bottoms are tall yet stocky. We have been selecting…
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Brassica napus. 25 days baby, 50 days full. A selection made by Tim Peters of Peters Seed and Research in Oregon for the most cold hardy kale available. Tim selected Western Front from the 10% of survivors of hard freezes that killed most other kales, including Scotch, Russian and Siberian types. It has some variation,…
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Allium ampeloprasum var. babingtonii Babington’s Leek is a special perennial vegetable that is propagated from top-setting bulbils. Occasionally found growing wild in the British Isles where it may be native, but extremely rare in North America. A worthwhile plant to have growing in any garden but especially sought after for semi-wild perennial permaculture plantings and…
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Sanguisorba minor. Perennial. Salad Burnet is a delightful salad green, sometimes added to mixed salads in Europe where it is native. The flavor is a nice accent in salad mix as it tastes like cucumbers. Cute, pinnately compound leaves always receive the question, “Oh, what is that?” We love it for its hardiness and tasty…
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Scorzonera hispanica. This root vegetable has black skin and mild-flavored white flesh. Leaves provide reliable winter greens, and bright yellow flowers in second year are edible. That’s right: three vegetables in one! Not only is this a standby and delicious winter food, but it is a true perennial perfect for the permaculture garden. We found…
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Silene vulgaris. Perennial. Salad herb native to Europe. Great for year-round salads as it is very hardy. Also good cooked in risotto and omelets. Used throughout Italy for its slightly aromatic flavor much like arugula or chicory, but milder and with an herbal note. Some avoid the older leaves as they have a strong bite….
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Rumex acetosa. Perennial. A variety of garden sorrel with nice long, strap-shaped leaves. Good color and flavor all winter. Tolerates dry spells. Extremely hardy and perfect for the permaculture or gourmet garden. We like it added as a small part in salad mixes and sauces, and it is used in sorrel soup, of course. Collected…
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Urtica dioica. Perennial in zones 3-10. Stinging Nettle is an indispensable and delicious perennial plant native to many northern regions throughout Europe, North America, and Asia. Grows wild or cultivated in cool, shady, and damp areas in all but the coldest or hottest environments. Loved for its nutrient-rich leaves that are used fresh as cooked…
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