Perennial vegetables, or crops that are planted once and harvested year after year, are the perfect way to turn a single spring’s worth of work into a lifetime’s worth of vegetables for…

Symphytum officinale NL: Smeerwortel / F: Consoude Comfrey is another amazing perennial herb, essential to any herbal first aid kit as well as to any healthy organic and permaculture garden. Comfrey in the garden: it contains more Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) than most commercial fertilizers. Its long roots draw nutrients from deep in the soil and transfer it all to the leaves. The nutrient-rich leaves can then be used directly as a mulch, added to compost piles as a compost activator or chopped and added to a container with rain water to allow it to ferment and be later used as liquid compost. Comfrey not only enriches the soil but it can also speed up heat processes, which is pretty handy to have near and around fruit shrubs and other fruit trees or larger crops that require higher soil temperatures. Do not allow it to grow near to smaller plants, as it is a pretty strong, large and rather dominant plant. it also comes in white Comfrey as first aid herb: it has been used in folk medicine to help reduce bruising and to speed up tissue repair: broken bones and ligaments, damaged cartilage or connective tissue. Its tissue healing properties (mainly attributed to a substance called allantoin) are so strong that it is not advisable to be used in case of open wounds, as it risks “closing” the wound much faster than the time the body might need to get rid of any harmful microorganisms. It is also useful externally in the treatment of varicose veins, joints inflammation, to stop bleeding and in eye injuries. Its tincture or tea made out of the dried leaves or roots have been used internally to reduce heavy menstruation flow and to relieve gastric ulcers. The leaves can be used freshly squeezed, dried and made into a strong tea or macerated in oil for 3-4 weeks, the drained oil can be used to make salves to be applied in bruises and rheumatic joints to help relieve pain and swelling. hairy leaves and stems Comfrey in the kitchen: it has also a long history of being used as an edible but in the light of recent studies this is no longer advised, since the plant contains varying amount of pyrrolizidine alkaloids - which are toxic. The young leaves contain little amounts of the harmful alkaloids and can therefore be consumed in moderate amounts (I personally would do that only in case where there is no other food source available). Dried leaves and roots can be made into tea and its roots can be roasted into coffee, such as with dandelion and chicory roots. More on Comfrey: Comfrey -Symphytum officinale - Knitbone, Bruisewort, Miracle Herb Comfrey Comfort - Lesley Tierra - PlanetHerbs Comfrey - The Superfood for Plants Medicinal & Poisonous Plants to Livestock - Comfrey Montana Plant Life: Comfrey Nice videos: Common comfrey Symphytum officinale - Sylvanbotanical Why permaculture folks love comfrey - Paul Wheaton

It is a perennial grass which is popularly known as khus in western and northern India. It gets its name from the Tamil word ‘vettiver’. Vetiver can grow up to 1.5 meters in height. It has thin-long leaves and has brownish-purple flowers. Unlike most other plants, Vetiver roots grow vertically downward; they can reach a depth of up to 4 meters.

Transplanting Perennials is such a fun part of gardening! If you don't like where a plant is, you can just move it. Learn how to transplant and divide plants with these easy tips..

If you’re looking to have a food garden, why not create an edible front yard landscape? Learn how you can create an eye-pleasing design.

I was dawdling around the supermarket the other day, and whilst browsing the aisles I stumbled across the fruit and vegetable section and staring me in the face were a rather pathetic bunch of spri…

Growing arrowroot is very, very easy. Today you'll learn how to grow arrowroot and how I included it in my food forest - plus, there's a video.

Photos of my Malabar Spinach Common Name: Malabar Spinach Scientific Name: Basella alba, Basella rubra Family: Basellaceae The tender leaves and shoots of Malabar Spinach are great fresh! Description: Malabar spinach is not actually related to spinach at all. It is a heat-loving, vining, perennial plant with heart-shaped leaves from the tropics and sub-tropics. It is often grown in more Temperate Climates as a heat-loving annual substitute for spinach. It is considered a succulent (a plant that stores water in their leaves and stems), and it is used much like spinach, although I believe the taste is not very similar when raw. Although when cooked, it does indeed taste like spinach. It is said that Malabar Spinach has a mucilaginous texture. This has a lot of negative connotations. I think a better word is "slippery". It actually has a very pleasant mouth feel to it. I would describe it as crunchy and juicy when raw. The taste is slightly peppery with a bit of a citrusy flavor with hints of earthy spinach to it. Apparently, the red stemmed version (Basella rubra) is more mild in flavor than the green (Basella alba). I have only grown and tasted Basella rubra, so I cannot speak from experience on the all green version. As I said above, once cooked, it tastes much like spinach, maybe a little stronger. History: The name, Malabar, likely refers to the northern areas of Kerala state in India. This at least is fitting, since it is thought that Malabar Spinach originated in India (although some research suggests Indonesia). It is a very popular green vegetable in India, Southeast Asia, China, and Africa. Trivia: This is a great salad green replacement when the temperatures soar in the summer and our lettuces are wilting and ready to bolt. Malabar Spinach is very high in vitamins A and C. Malabar Spinach is high in calcium and iron. Malabar Spinach using my fig tree as a trellis. USING THIS PLANT Primary Uses: Fresh - Young leaves and the top 5-8 inches of shoots can be eaten raw. Used in salads. Cooked - Older leaves should be cooked as they have a rougher texture. It is more like spinach in look and flavor when cooked. It holds its shape a lot better than spinach when it is cooked. Can be substituted for cooked spinach or chard. Secondary Uses: Thickening agent. Here is where the "mucilaginous" part of Malabar Spinach is very helpful, kind of like okra, in soups, stews, and curries. The red-purple juice from the berries can be used a a food dye and ink - it will stain! Yield: Higher with more heat and with more pinching off of shoots and flowers Harvesting: Whenever you want! Storage: Should be used immediately. Does not seem to store well for more than a few days after picked. The deep red vines and pink flowers contrast beautifully with the dark green leaves. DESIGNING WITH THIS PLANT USDA Hardiness Zone: Killed by frost, although some report established plants can withstand 5 F (-14 C). Plant Type: Vine Leaf Type: Deciduous Forest Garden Use: Fast growing, heat loving annual vine in Temperate Climates. Perennial vine in Sub-Tropical, Tropical Climates, heated greenhouses, or possibly as a potted indoor plant. Cultivars/Varieties: Basella alba is all green. Basella rubra has red stems, is prettier, and is likely just a variety of Basella alba. Flowering: Mid-Summer Malabar Spinach is a fast growing vine. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS PLANT Size: 5-6 feet in a summer, easily. Up to 12 feet in a long summer, and some report up to 30 feet if grown as a perennial. Growth Rate: Fast if there is heat. Large plant in 8-10 weeks. Older leaves are a great cooked spinach or chard substitute. GROWING CONDITIONS FOR THIS PLANT Light: Prefers full sun Shade: Tolerates light shade (about 50%), but grows much slower Moisture: Medium pH: Prefers fairly neutral soil (6.1 - 7.8) Special Considerations for Growing: Give it something to grow on (trellis or tree) and your yields will be higher, easier, and free from dirt. Propagation: Pretty easily grown from seed. Some will recommend soaking the seed in water overnight to improve germination rates, but I have not found that to be necessary. Seems to prefer direct seeding when temperatures remain above 60 F (15 C), but I have transplanted with success. Seeds can be saved from ripened fruit (small dark purple berries) - clean and dry the seeds. Malabar Spinach is also easily grown from cuttings as it roots easily. Maintenance: Minimal. Cut back severely to keep it in check if you live in a frost-free zone. If there are no nematodes, then this plant has almost no pests. Concerns: If you live in a frost-free area, this vine can grow like crazy. Some may call it invasive. Reportedly susceptible to nematodes. Reportedly susceptible to a fungus that destroys the leaves and can infect beets and chard as well.

Interested in incorporating nitrogen fixing plants into your permaculture landscape? Here's everything you need to know!

Plant these herbs once and they'll come back every year meaning you can have an endless supply of nutritious and delicious fresh herbs all year long.

Are you growing echinacea and are not sure what looks good with it? Plant these beautiful perennials with coneflowers for a striking look.

An ancient herb that is beloved by tea drinkers and cats alike.

Vertical gardening is a concept that is well promoted these days, especially when considering urban and suburban gardens in confined spaces. A quick search on any server will reveal a great collection

Check out this step-by-step photo tutorial and learn how you can turn your backyard garlic harvest into beautiful, convenient braids for curing or storage.

Perennial 9 Star Broccoli Brassica Oleracea Botrytis Asparagoides produces a central head and multiple mini cauliflowers and can grow for up to 5 years

Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea) is a North American wildflower known for its yellow umbels—and for being the the black swallowtail butterfly's host plant.

Growing vegetables and fruits in the home garden is rewarding, but many people are put off by the backbreaking work involved at the start of the growing season. Perennial edibles are the answer to this

See how easy it is to plant, grow and harvest your own delicious perennial crop of raspberries in your backyard!

Normally you should be starting leeks for your vegetable garden fairly soon (in February in most climates, so get those seed orders in!). Leeks can and shouldContinue Reading

Coreopsis, a.k.a. tickseed, is delicate-looking herbaceous flowering perennials or annuals with daisy-like blossoms. The flower heads have eight teethed

As a big fan of Lord of the Rings, I decided to plant a pretty little perennial garden outside of our hobbit hole to bring our upstate NY Shire to life!

No-till beds are all the rage in permaculture circles. That’s right, it is possible to make a garden, a very productive garden at that, without ripping up the ground and piling it into boring little rows. In fact, some growers believe that tilling the soil actual exposes and thus kills many of the important microorganisms necessary for healthy gardens.

För torra och soliga lägen krävs tuffa solälskare. Här är listan på våra favoriter som klarar läget. Glöm bara inte att vattna tills de etablerat sig.

Edible Climbing Vines help maximise our growing space we can double the amount of food in each garden bed or container.

Discover how to plant and grow Okinawa spinach, an easy to grow perennial vegetable that's delicious, nutritious, and ornamental

Geranium maculatum is a pretty flowering plant native to eastern North America. In addition to filling natural woodland openings, this herbaceous perennial works well in informal gardens as well, offering loose clusters of pink flowers in late spring to early summer. Learn more about wild geranium in this article...

Moringa oleifera is nutritious and a great way to add extra nutrition. Learn how to grow moringa as an annual or perennial in this step by step guide.

Eeuwig moes is een van de oudste koolsoorten, maar is desondanks een minder bekende groente. Dit gewas wordt ook wel oude wijvenkool genoemd.

Qualified Gardener Elizabeth Waddington explains how and when to prune Potentilla - whether for maintenance or full rejuvenation.

It makes sense to grow asparagus with strawberries, and here's why! Watch my perennial permaculture beds grow from seed to harvest...

Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’. Photo: terranovanurseries.com It’s big, it’s bold and it’s golden … and it’s now the 2020 Perennial ofContinue Reading

Man ser dem då och då i reportage och bilder på Instagram och Pinterest, de där läckra lila blommorna man bara vill ha. Men så när man står där på plantskolan ...

How to grow Rhubarb in the garden or pots. Rhubarb is a perennial that will grow for years. Harvest Rhubarb by snapping the stalk.

Connaissez-vous les légumes perpétuels ou légumes vivaces ? Nous vous les présentons. Cultivez-les au potager !

Dans le jardin, la pergola végétale offre un espace de détente qui fait toute la différence. Découvrez notre sélection de 15 plantes à installer sur cette structure.

Much has been written on domestic permaculture(zones 1-3) and by now we all know the basics on growing domestic plants in accordance with natural systems. But, how do you encourage the wild edges of y