Perennial Vegetables

384 Pages·2011·9.96 MB·English

by  Toensmeier

PERENNIAL VEGETABLES
PERENNIAL VEGETABLES
From Artichoke to ‘Zuiki’ Taro,
a Gardener’s Guide to Over 100
Delicious, Easy-to-Grow Edibles
Eric Toensmeier
Chelsea Green Publishing
White River Junction, Vermont
Copyright ©2007 by Eric Toensmeier. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form
by any means without permission in writing from the publisher.
Illustrations ©2007 by Elayne Sears.
Editor: Ben Watson
Project Manager and Copy Editor: Collette Leonard
Proofreader: Laura Jorstad
Design: Robert Yerks, Sterling Hill Productions
Design Assistant: Abrah Griggs, Sterling Hill Productions
Printed in the United States
First printing, May 2007
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 08 09 10 11 12
Our Commitment to Green Publishing
Chelsea Green sees publishing as a tool for cultural change and ecological sterwardship. We strive to align
our book manufacturing practices with our editorial mission, and to reduce the impact of our business
enterprise on the environment. We print our books and catalogs on chlorine-free recycled paper, using soy-
based inks, whenever possible. Chelsea Green is a member of the Green Press Initiative
(www.greenpressinitiative.org), a nonprofit coalition of publishers, manufacturers, and authors working to
protect the world’s endangered forests and conserve natural resources.
Perennial Vegetables was printed on 68-lb Renew Matte, a 20 percent post-consumerwaste recycled
paper supplied by RR Donnelley–Willard, OH.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Toensmeier, Eric.
Perennial vegetables : from artichoke to zuiki taro, a gardener’s guide to over 100 delicious,
easy-to-grow edibles / by Eric Toensmeir [sic].
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
eBook ISBN: 978-1-603581-38-7
1. Vegetables. 2. Vegetable gardening. 3. Perennials. I. Title.
SB320.9.T64 2007
635—dc22
2006102256
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
Post Office Box 428
White River Junction, Vermont 05001
[phone]
www.chelseagreen.com
Contents
Preface
Part I:
Gardening with Perennial Vegetables
1. A New Class of Food Plants
2. Design Ideas
3. Selecting Species
4. Techniques
Part II:
Species Profiles
Using This Book
Alismataceae: The Water-Plantain Family
Arrowhead
Alliaceae: The Onion Family
Multiplier Onions
Ramps
Other Perennial Alliums
Amaranthaceae: The Amaranth Family
Sissoo Spinach
Apiaceae: The Celery Family
Arracacha
Article: “Lost Crops of the Incas”
Lovage
Water Celery
Skirret
Araceae: The Aroid Family
Edible Aroids (Taro, Belembe, Tannier)
Article: Calcium Oxalate
Araliaceae: The Spikenard Family
Udo
Asteraceae: The Aster Family
Chicory and Dandelion
Globe Artichoke
Okinawa Spinach
Sunchoke
Article: Inulin
Fuki
Scorzonera
Yacon
Basellaceae: The Malabar Spinach Family
Malabar Spinach
Ulluco
Brassicaceae: The Cabbage Family
Perennial Brassicas (Cabbage, Kale, and Broccoli)
Article: Pests and Diseases of the Brassica Family
Turkish Rocket
Sea Kale
Sylvetta Arugula
Watercress
Cactaceae: The Cactus Family
Nopale Cactus
Cannaceae: The Canna Family
Achira
Caricaceae: The Papaya Family
Papaya
Chenopodiaceae: The Goosefoot Family
Saltbush
Article: Oxalic Acid
Sea Beet
Good King Henry
Convolvulaceae: The Morning Glory Family
Water Spinach
Sweet Potato
Cucurbitaceae: The Squash Family
Perennial Cucumber
Malabar Gourd
Bitter Melon
Chayote
Article: Extending the Range of Chayote and Other Day-
Length-Sensitive Plants
Cyperaceae: The Sedge Family
Chufa
Water Chestnut
Dioscoreaceae: The Yam Family
Air Potato
Article: Air Potato: An Ecological Conundrum?
Yams
Dryopteridaceae: The Wood-Fern Family
Ostrich Fern
Euphorbiaceae: The Spurge Family
Chaya
Bull Nettles
Cassava
Katuk
Fabaceae: The Pea Family
Groundnut
Basul
Hyacinth Bean
Water Mimosa
Perennial Beans
Winged Bean
Lamiaceae: The Mint Family
Chinese Artichoke
Liliaceae: The Lily Family
Asparagus
Yellow Asphodel
Camass
Daylily
Giant Solomon’s Seal
Malvaceae: The Mallow Family
Edible Hibiscus
Cranberry Hibiscus
Musk Mallow
Meliaceae: The Neem Family
Fragrant Spring Tree
Moraceae: The Mulberry Family
Breadfruit
Moringaceae: The Moringa Family
Moringa
Musaceae: The Banana Family
Plantain and Green Banana
Nelumbonaceae: The Lotus Family
Water Lotus
Oxalidaceae: The Wood-Sorrel Family
Oca
Phytolaccaceae: The Pokeweed Family
Pokeweed
Haitian Basket Vine
Poaceae: The Grass Family
Clumping Bamboos
Running Bamboos
Article: Rhizome Barriers for Aggressive Running Bamboos
Pitpit
Polygonaceae: The Smartweed Family
Rhubarb
Sorrel
Solanaceae: The Nightshade Family
Wolfberry
Ground Cherry and Goldenberry
Pepino Dulce
Peppers, Tomatoes, Eggplants, and Potatoes
Article: Pests and Diseases of the Nightshade Family