Page 30 - ALG Issue 2 2022

vegetables
Low Maintenance Vegetables
Perennial vegetables are a useful crop to fill that ‘Hungry Gap’ in early spring. Most will last 3 to 6 years and produce seeds or offsets that you can use to grow on replacement plants.
BUNIUM BULBOCASTARNUM – EARTH CHESTNUT OR PIGNUT
This can be grown from seed but appears to be more readily available as plants. This is a 60cms high clump- forming herbaceous perennial, has delicate leaves and pretty white flowers. The seeds have a taste similar to cumin and the leaves can be used as a parsley substitute. The roots form small tubers that can be roasted or boiled and have a chestnut/sweet potato flavour.
POIREAU PERPETUEL
AND OTHER ALLIUMS
Poireau perpetuel is a wild French leek variety similar to Babingtons leek that is much less susceptible to leek rust. The slim stems have a hint of garlic, emerge in late autumn after a period of dormancy and can be cut and used in the same way as annual leeks. If cut off at soil level, the bulb will recover and re-grow the following season. If left to flower, bulbils will form that can be used to propagate new plants. The bulbs will also grow offsets.
Allium hookeri or Hookers chives is a bulbous perennial – 60cms in height that has edible white drumstick flowers and leaves that can be used as you would chives. The flavour is said to be stronger but a little sweeter. Grow in full sun.
Another useful garlic flavoured plant that is also very attractive is Society Garlic – Tulbaghia violacea. The star shaped flowers can be used to add a garlic flavour to leafy salads without affecting your breath – that’s why it
is called Society Garlic. This is best grown in a sunny well-drained spot or in a pot and taken into an un-heated greenhouse in winter.
BUNIAS ORIENTALIS -
TURKISH ROCKET
A clump-forming perennial growing to about 80cms, it has a deep tap root
and is very drought tolerant. The young leaves can be cut finely and added
to salads and the flower heads can
be harvested from spring onwards and eaten like broccoli; they have a mustardy flavour. Grow from seed or cuttings in full sun or partial shade.
PELTARIA ALLIACEA -
GARLIC CRESS
This can be grown from seed but appears to be more readily available
as rooted divisions. It is easy to grow
in any soil in full sun or light shade.
The purple tinged foliage grows to about 60cms and produces white flowers popular with bees. The garlic flavoured leaves can be added to salads or cooked in soups or stews. Do not harvest during dry spells as the leaves become bitter, they also become hotter as the season progresses. The side shoots can be split off and planted up to make new plants.
BRASSICA OLERACEA (ALBOGLABRA GROUP) KAI LAN – CHINESE BROCCOLI
Sometimes known as Gailan, this
is easy to grow from seed and is
an evergreen short-lived perennial, growing up to 45cms. It enjoys a fertile well-drained soil and sun or light shade. Harvest from June onwards. It will re-grow if cut back but, if you want the plant to overwinter, do not cut after August. The upper stem, leaves and flower buds are edible. Steam or boil till crisp and tender and serve with a dressing of oyster sauce.
Image credits –
all Wikimedia Commons
Earth Chestnut - Rob Hille, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-sa/3.0)
Poireau Perpetuel – public domain via WCC
Hookers Chives - Averater, CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/4.0)
Garlic cress – public domain via WCC Kai lan - T. Tseng, CC BY 2.0 (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)
Do not harvest during dry spells as the leaves become bitter
30 Allotment and Leisure Gardener