I grew up picking and eating wild asparagus every spring. As an adult, I find I crave fresh asparagus in springtime. I know that I will need to get a bed established for the asparagus roots should I try to grow them.
I wondered if anyone in the South grows asparagus? What conditions are required to make it thru our summers?
Do you grow any other perennial vegetables?
Perennial Vegetables... Does anyone grow them?
Pod, asparagus does well in East Texas. I planted in full sun in a loamy area. I have Mary Washington. I have wanted to go by this nursery to look at a lemon tree http://www.bobwellsnursery.com. And I noticed on their website they have a few other types of asparagus. They are outside of Tyler, would be cheaper to pick up then ship (shipping is $50 min.). I've also heard it's best to get them planted in early February (to beat the heat?) They are so deeply planted that I don't think water is a big issue with them.
I am interested in other perennials too.
The only perennial vegetable I grow is Elephant garlic, and biennial Curly Kale.
Swiss chard is also a biennial, and I used to grow it also, but haven't lately.
I usually start the kale in the spring, just make a little row in the garden, then thin out and transplant about 1 1/2 feet apart. Usually 6 plants is enough for a family, you harvest the lower leaves and it just keeps growing, it blooms the second year.
I am glad the garlic is spreading, it is a good thing.
Thanks for the insight on the asparagus bed. I am surprised at full sun as the wild beds we harvested were located when they received morning sun, afternoon shade. I've seen the roots offered in a variety of catalogues and will look for Mary Washington... thank you.
A friend told me his Dad sunk a bathtub, filled with appropriate soil and used that for the asparagus bed. Do you think the roots need to be deeper than that?
I didn't think of it but grow an heirloom garlic, multiplier onions and a walking onion. I guess they would be considered perennial too.
Oh yes, if you have it, afternoon shade would be best. I didn't have that option and mine are planted in an area that had asparagus for ten years, the previous owner's Dh decided to move (to save water use) them in the middle of summer and wiped them all out. Tens years of mulching left behind really good soil! I planted out in the same place thinking I would add perennials for shade and..maybe this year. We planted the crowns in a foot deep trench. I get lazy and don't want to pull grass so I just keep piling mulch around them, the crowns are probably two/three feet deep by now. They keep trucking along despite my abuse and neglect. This is our second year, I think I'm allowed to harvest 1 spear per crown, but will wait. I'd rather have a larger patch quicker.
I think a bath tub would work fine. Or you could dig a trench/hole and compost in place a year before planting.
I'm feeling too cold and achy to contemplate digging a hole for a bathtub today.lol
I would have to agree. Actually thinking about an above ground bathtub camoflaged by plants of course... LOL
How do you fix the Kale and Swiss Chard. I've never sampled either one.
I like to fix them by tearing or shredding the leaves and separating them from the stems.
The stems of Chard ca be cooked separately like you would cook asparagus.
The stems of kale are usually too tough.
Put some oil in a large frying skillet that has a cover and add some chopped onion and garlic to the hot oil, or just one of them, and saute until soft, add the torn leaves and toss to coat with the oil.
Turn heat to low and put the cover on the pan to steam the greens, stir once or twice, no water is necessary and when the greens are tender, season with salt and pepper.
It usually takes about 10 minutes.
They are delecious that way and all the nutrients are retained.
They are both extremely nutritious.
Hmmm... they sound interesting. Are they similar in taste to the cabbage or broccoli? Can they be eaten raw or are they too strong?
I truly have to remember my DG family at all times...I was offered the baptismal font last Saturday when my church was relocating. Stainless steel, 6 ft. long by 2 ft. deep. The church building we're occupying now already has a pool, so we just left it there. Alas, I wanted it when I found out we weren't taking it. I had visions of the DH dumping the grass clippings inside the tub, out back behind the dogpen, rather than on the ground out back behind the dog pen!
Then I had visions of this wonderful raised planter island in the yard, filled with all kinds of wonderful flowers and veggies. And It would be painted an aesthetically pleasing shade of something that blended in with the yard.....
Oh the visions, I had. And, now, I'm reading about a sunken bathtub, and wishing I had thought of my DG family...
Alas....parting was such sweet sorrow....
Oh dear, no chance of getting it? It would have good memories from church and a great recycling use also. It would be a good size for a planter, it did have a drain too?
Pod, normally they are not eaten raw, the kale has a taste similar to collards, and chard is of the beet family so more like beet greens.
All right, thanks. Having grown up in the north, I've eaten many a root and never the greens. I shall have to sample them first and I know DH will be closed minded on these. Like the aspargus, it is my passion only. LOL
Kale in soups and stews sounds terrific... I do that with cabbage frequently. I just read Swiss chard in heavy cream and gained 5 # LOL