Page 14 - ALG Issue 4 2017

General
Perennials on the Plot
For those of us who have more enthusiasm for growing vegetables than they have spare time and space, it is worth considering growing a selection of perennial vegetables. Most plotholders
are familiar with long lasting crops such as asparagus and globe artichoke but may not be aware of vegetables like Babington leek, Daubenton’s Kale and Nine Star broccoli. These varieties can provide a reliable crop that does not need to be sown, pricked
out and nurtured on overcrowded window sills every year. Even plotholders with suf cient time and growing space can bene t from the early crop they provide - during the “hungry gap” in early spring and they are a useful crop to grow in the shady spots on your plot that do not suit other annual vegetables.
My tenancy agreement includes a clause that says I need permission to grow asparagus and strawberries. This is rooted in the compensation rights contained within allotment legislation and does not generally inhibit a plotholder’s choice of crop, but if your allotment authority is very prescriptive, it may be wise to check.
Perennial onions and Babington leek
Allium stulosum or Welsh onion and oriental bunching onions – The Welsh onion is a hardy perennial that grows to about 12 inches tall in 9inch diameter clumps, resembling a multi-stemmed salad onion. The shoots can be used as salad onions, while the leaves can be treated as chives. New leaves grow to give a continuous harvest. There is also a variety with red bulbs.
The oriental bunching onions such as Ishikura* have developed from the Welsh onion. This variety produces long white stalks with short green tops which can be pulled when they are as thin as a pencil or as thick as a carrot. It doesn’t form a bulb so looks almost like a young leek. It has a ne mild avour which makes it ideal for salads or stir fries.
Allium proliferum, Egyptian Walking or Tree Onion – These onions produce bulbils at the stem tip rather than owers. This tip then bends over and the bulbils root in to the ground and the onion will then spread over a plot. The small lower bulbs are eaten leaving the bulbils to increase your stock, although all parts are edible.
Allium ampeloprasum, Babington leek – This is a native plant from the UK that behaves very much like the Egyptian Walking onion, producing a head of bulbils that bends over to root in the soil. If the
stem is cut off and used as a leek it will re-grow. If left to grow for several years the bulb can be eaten and has a garlic/leek avour.
Perennial Brassicas
Brassica oleracea var. ramosa - Daubentons and Brassica oleracea var Acephala - Taunton Kale. These are short-lived perennials, producing an abundance of tasty leaves during the winter. They can be left in the ground for 4 or 5 years and stock is increased by cuttings.
Brassica oleracea - Nine Star Broccoli. This broccoli is easy to grow from seed; the plant produces small white cauli ower-like heads each spring, tasting like a broccoli/ cauli ower cross. Remove unused ower heads before they go to seed. They will grow back if cut back to a 12" stump.
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Brassica oleracea - Pentland Brigg - Cabbage Leafed Kale. A short-term perennial developed from a cross between a curly kale and thousand headed kale. It produces side shoots (like a sprouting broccoli) after the main head has been picked. Pick the main leaves in autumn & tasty side-shoots later on.
Brassica oleracea alboglabra - Chinese Broccoli or Kailaan*; All parts are edible and the plant will re-grow if cut back. However, if you want the plant to overwinter do not cut after August.
Spinach alternatives
Hablitzia Tamnoides – Caucasian Spinach: A sprawling, semi shade loving perennial climber with mild spinach type leaves.
Chenopodium bonus Henricus - Good King Henry* or Fat Hen: An ancient and perennial vegetable with a mild spinach-like taste. Prefers a shady spot. Force for asparagus-like shoots early in the spring. Needs to be eaten soon after harvesting. Soak young leaves in salted water for an hour before sautéing in butter; ower buds are also eaten.
Phaseolus coccineus – Runner Beans. A perennial in its native habitat, runner beans are generally grown as an annual in the UK. However, if you treat as you would a dahlia and lift before the frosts and store in a frost-free place, it will regrow when re-planted and ower and fruit earlier than plants sown from seed that year.
Some of these crops are hard to nd as plants or seeds but an internet search will throw up some options and Kings Seeds stock several of the vegetables mentioned. It’s worth asking around for cuttings of the perennial kales; I obtained one at a rare Plant Fair. I’m now on the look-out for Poireau perpetuel – a French perennial leek I heard mentioned on this pod-cast on the Guardian website: https:// www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/audio/2016/jan/23/perennial- vegetables
*Available from Kings Seeds
PHOTO: jusben@morgue le.com