What is your favourite perennial veg?

[mysteryduck]

Could you grow the big perennials (like brassicas and leeks) in a bed and grow annual veg in pots?

I didn't even think of that! I guess it seemed more natural to me to put one big thing in a pot and little things in rows in my square beds. But yes, that would certainly be possible. So long as the brassicas weren't big enough to block out the sun for the rest of my beds

[veggiechicken]

Choose the bed that casts the least shadow - North east corner perhaps?

[Jay-ell]

Forgot lovage. If you like celery then it'll put out loads of celery flavoured leaves. It's a big plant but for the space conscious there's also Scots Lovage, a smaller species that tastes the same.

If you like the flavour of aniseed/liquorice there's sweet cicely. Leaves are commonly used but the roots ate also edible with intense flavour.

[Jay-ell]

Oh wow! That's a lot to process. I'm going to need to do some research! Thank you!!

And here's a link to Siberian Chives:
https://www.pennardplants.com/proddetail.php?prod=Ed458

Also, a shame about the Bristol Onions, they really are pretty!

Thank you.

Another big hole in my pocket.

[Nicos]

About chard....it comes in lots of pretty coloured stems too. Vulcan has a lovely red stem, rainbow is a selection of white, yellow, orange and red. Very decorative as well as edible.
I've actually seen them used in flowerbeds on roundabouts for added colour!

[mysteryduck]

VC, alas its going to shadow something important no matter where it goes. My garden's only wee But I ordered two anyways. The plan is to put one in the ground and one in a pot and see what happens...

Jay-ell, thanks but celery / aniseed aren't for me. I did order myself some siberian chives though! (and have a couple of sources for potato onions and everlasting onions later in the year)

Nicos, I didn't realise chard was perennial! Maybe if I grow some in pots, I can shift them into the greenhouse in the winter...

[veggiechicken]

Chard and perpetual spinach are biennial and flower/bolt and set seed in their second year.
If you cut off the seed heads you can keep them growing for a while longer or let them self seed (as I do).
I think rainbow chard is beautiful enough to grow in the flower bed or front garden.
Here's a self seeded one of mine in the GH that is about to be dug up and planted somewhere to go to seed.

[mysteryduck]

Very pretty! Do you find them to be unattractive to birds / caterpillars? If so, they sound ideal for a patch in the front

[Jay-ell]

In addition to perennial veg you could add a few annual veg and let some of them self seed to grow back next year. Orach, Chervil, Corriander, red acorn lettuce etc

[Jay-ell]

Oh wow! That's a lot to process. I'm going to need to do some research! Thank you!!

And here's a link to Siberian Chives:
https://www.pennardplants.com/proddetail.php?prod=Ed458

Also, a shame about the Bristol Onions, they really are pretty!

The Allium Nutans came today - along with the Vietnamese Coriander and Lemon Verbena. Nice and healthy looking plants.

The Chives have 2 stems at the moment - hopefully they will start splitting soon.

[veggiechicken]

Very pretty! Do you find them to be unattractive to birds / caterpillars? If so, they sound ideal for a patch in the front

Don't remember any problems with pests.
The chickens love them!! I filled a bed with chard and asparagus kale and it kept growing back for a couple of years.
There was more than enough left for me.

[mysteryduck]

The Allium Nutans came today - along with the Vietnamese Coriander and Lemon Verbena. Nice and healthy looking plants.

The Chives have 2 stems at the moment - hopefully they will start splitting soon.

Mine arrived today too! Two in a pot. I’m going to plant them out on the weekend. Maybe this year I’ll leave them to multiply? What kind of conditions would be best do you think?

[mysteryduck]

Don't remember any problems with pests.
The chickens love them!! I filled a bed with chard and asparagus kale and it kept growing back for a couple of years.
There was more than enough left for me.

Fabulous! If only I had space for chickens too My two perennial nine star arrived today. With the Siberian chives.. and three types of mint! This forum is a bad influence on me!

Quick question. Will the nine star need a lot of sun? Or is partial shade, near a wall ok? I’m quite new to brassicas!

[veggiechicken]

We're a good influence - well, I am, not sure about the rest.
My 9 Stars are in a debris-netted tunnel so they don't get a lot of sun. They grow quite tall so you may want to think about staking if its windy,

[Dynamite]

Mmmmmm, I think mine is Broccoli with Rhubarb a close second.

Kind Regards.............Rob