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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2020 | MichiganGardener.com
Vegetables that are perennial
M
ichigan vegetable gardens are predominantly annual vegetables. That is, they complete their life cycle in one growing season. However, we do have at least three perennial (surviving more than one year) vegetables that can tolerate our winter climate. Asparagus, Jerusalem artichoke (not a true artichoke), and rhubarb are the three hardy perennials for the Michigan garden. Each vegetable has some specific growing needs.
Asparagus
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bers fairly quickly and need to be harvested on a regular basis. Tubers may be dug anytime from September until the ground freezes and again in the spring before new growth occurs. It is a good idea to reset the beds periodically to control the spread of the plants and to prevent overcrowding. Not all garden centers carry Jerusalem artichokes, but the popular variety and most likely available is “Stampede.” More information can be found at “Jerusalem Artichokes: Tasty and Versatile” at tinyurl. com/y6xsn7sk.
Asparagus plants are grown from crowns Rhubarb planted in early spring. They prefer a sandy soil On this very hardy perennial, only the petiwith a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. The crowns are oles (leaf stalks) are eaten. Rhubarb leaves planted in trenches about six inches deep, are and roots are toxic due to the presence of oxcovered with a couple inches of soil, and as the alic acid in them. In early spring, crowns are plants grow taller, the balance of the trench planted with the crown bud about two inches is filled in. The asparagus is allowed to grow deep in well-drained soils with high organic without harvesting in the first and second matter. Rhubarb can get by with 5 to 6 hours years. In the third year, some harvesting may of sun, so it is suitable for areas rebegin. Never harvest every spear ceiving partial shade. as that may kill your plant. Some Plants should not be harvested in spears are needed to grow through the first year and only sparingly in the summer and provide nutrithe second. After that, only about ents to the crown to survive until one third of the leaf stalks should the next growing season. Properly be harvested to maintain the health maintained, asparagus plants can and vigor of the plant. Rhubarb survive in excess of 20 years. plants may remain productive in It is important to note that asexcess of 10 years. Most varieties paragus has male and female Mary of rhubarb have red petioles, but be plants. Female plants produce seed Gerstenberger aware that there are a few varieties, that may result in many asparagus such as “Victoria,” that have green plants growing where they are not stalks with perhaps some shading of red. wanted. The “Washington” varieties have For more information, visit “How to Grow been around a long time and are more likely Rhubarb” at tinyurl.com/y289fxvf. If you to give you a mix of male and female plants. happen to already have rhubarb growing in The “Jersey” varieties are mainly male plants. your yard, you may want to read “RenewFor more information on growing asparaing Old Rhubarb Plants” at tinyurl.com/ gus in the home garden, go to “How to Grow y2694lw6. Asparagus” at tinyurl.com/y3dvepo2 and These three perennial vegetables are delialso “Growing Asparagus at Home” at tinyurl. cious and nutritious, and can even look lovely com/y3wxnqo4. in a flower garden or as a border planting. Jerusalem artichokes Just be sure to plant them with the long term Also known as sunchokes or sunroots, Jein mind! rusalem artichokes are actually members of the sunflower family and are native to North Mary Gerstenberger was the Consumer HorAmerica. The portion eaten is the tuber and it ticulture Coordinator at the Michigan State is used in much the same way as a potato. The University Extension in Macomb County, MI. tubers contain inulin, which is considered For vegetable and gardening information from beneficial in a diabetic diet. The plant may MSU, visit www.migarden.msu.edu. grow to a height of 6 to 8 feet and produces bright yellow flowers. Tubers should be plantCall the toll-free Michigan State University ed in spring and prefer a well-drained garden Lawn and Garden Hotline at 888-678-3464 soil with high fertility. They can produce tufor answers to your gardening questions.
