Perennial vegetable

Perennial vegetables are parts of plants that are prepared and eaten like a vegetable, and that are also perennial, in other words, the plants live for more than two years.

Some well known perennial vegetables from the temperate regions of the world include asparagus, artichoke and rhubarb. In the tropics cassava and taro are grown as vegetables, and these plants can live many years.

Perennial vegetables are an integral part of many cultural diets around the world, particularly in tropical agriculture. Perennial vegetables fell out of favor in most of Europe, and other western influenced cultures, once industrial agriculture gained a foothold.C. Picone and D. Van Tassel. 2002. [http://www.landinstitute.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/08/23/439bd36c9acf1 Agriculture and Biodiversity Loss: Industrial Agriculture] . The Land Institute] Some of the older temperate varieties include: seakale, skirret, sorrel, and Good King Henry.

These plants are an integral part of any successful forest garden, being incorporated into both the herbaceous layer (like a ground cover), or even low growing canopy layer (like overstory trees and shrubs).

See also

* Leaf vegetable
* Root vegetable
* Breadfruit is an example of a tree fruit that is perennial, and is used as a vegetable

Further reading

*Craig Elevitch. 1998. "Leaves to Live By: Perennial Leaf Vegetables". [http://www.agroforestry.net/pubs/perennial_vegetables.html Agroforestry.net] .
*Eric Toensmeier. "Perennial Vegetables: From Artichokes to Zuiki Taro, A Gardener's Guide to Over 100 Delicious, Easy-to-Grow Edibles." Chelsea Green, 2007. ISBN 1931498407
*Simon Hickmott. "Growing Unusual Vegetables: Weird And Wonderful Vegetables And How to Grow Them". Eco-Logic Books, 2006. ISBN 1899233113
*Ken Fern. "Plants for a Future: Edible & Useful Plants for a Healthier World". Permanent Publications, 2000. ISBN 1856230112

References