Perennial Veg 101

If you’re looking for a way to make your veg patch more productive with less work, perennial vegetables might just be the answer. Unlike annual crops which need sowing every year, perennials are in it for the long haul. You only need to plant them once, look after them, and they’ll reward you with delicious harvests for years to come.

For UK gardeners, where the weather can be unpredictable and summers often feel too short, perennial vegetables offer resilience, reliability, and the satisfaction of something productive pushing through when annual beds are bare.

Why Should I Grow Perennial Vegetables?

They are low maintenance. Once established, perennials mostly look after themselves. No yearly sowing schedules or endless trays of seedlings—just steady, reliable crops.

They are really good for soil health. Due to the fact that you aren’t digging up and replanting every year, the soil structure stays intact. That means healthier soil, more worms, and fewer weeds.

They can be very cost-effective. A single investment can feed you for many years. I think my rhubarb crowns set me back about £5 each and I have had many many crumbles and compotes from them. Compare that with buying seeds or plug plants every spring, and perennials quickly pay for themselves.

You can enjoy extended harvests. Some perennials, like asparagus and rhubarb, are among the first crops you’ll harvest in spring when not much else is ready. There are others, like perennial kales, that keep producing through the hungry gap (the period between March and May when there aren’t many crops be harvested and your winter stores are running out).

They are often wildlife-friendly. Perennial flowers and foliage attract pollinators and beneficial insects. There are loads that look great too and double up as ornamentals, or ‘edimentals’ as some have named them.

Which perennial vegetables are good to grow in the UK? 

If you’re new to perennial growing, these are the tried and tested crops I’d recommend:

• Asparagus. A garden classic. It takes a few years to get established, but once it’s up and running you’ll enjoy fresh spears every spring for many years. In the years before you can harvest, the foliage is beautiful too so it also looks good!
  Growing tip: Plant crowns in March or April in well-drained soil. Don’t harvest in the first year and by the second or third spring you’ll be rewarded with tender spears.

• Rhubarb. Botanically rhubarb is classed as a vegetable (though usually eaten as a fruit). It is tough, forgiving (believe me, I do neglect mine sometimes…) and perfect for crumble. All it needs is plenty of space.
  Growing tip: Plant crowns in late autumn or early spring. Leave for year one, then harvest lightly in the second year. In subsequent years you can harvest from April to June to your hearts content, and even try forcing it if you fancy!  

• Jerusalem Artichokes. This isn’t one I’ve tried myself but I hear that it is incredibly easy to grow, but also almost impossible to get rid of once you plant them which I suppose is a good thing if you like artichoke soup!
  Growing tip: Plant tubers in March or April, and harvest from late autumn and through winter when the stems die back.

• Perennial Kale (Daubenton’s Kale or Taunton Deane Kale). A leafy green that doesn’t bolt like annual kales. Keep picking and it keeps giving.
  Growing tip: Best planted in spring or early summer. It provides greens almost year-round and is especially useful during the aforementioned hungry gap.

• Perennial Alliums (Chives, Welsh Onions, Wild Garlic). Onion- and garlic-flavoured greens that come back year after year. Chives in particular are great for pollinators when they flower - I have seen a few people use the flowers in arrangements too which is a cute idea! Watch out with Wild Garlic as it is a known spreader.
  Growing tip: Plant in spring or autumn, and enjoy cut-and-come-again leaves from April right through to October.

Tips for growing your own perennial vegetables

Pick the Right Spot. Most perennial veg like full sun and well-drained soil. They’ll be in place for years, so make sure you plan carefully!

Prepare the Ground. Add some compost before planting to give your perennials a strong start. When I planted my asparagus I put well rotted manure in the trenches and that seems to have worked well. 

Be patient! As I mentioned some of these vegetables, asparagus for example, need patience before you can harvest. It’ll be worth the wait, I promise!

Mix and Match. You don’t need a dedicated perennial bed, you can plant them into your veg patch or even flower borders for a low-maintenance mix.

Perennial vegetables are a brilliant way to make your garden more resilient, sustainable, and rewarding. With just a little planning at the start, you’ll be harvesting year after year without the constant replanting and digging. Whether it’s the luxury of homegrown asparagus or the comfort of a rhubarb crumble perennial vegetables give back far more than they take.

Planning now you can start next season with one or two and enjoy the pleasure of a garden that keeps on giving!