New pernnial edible plants in our garden (1)

After more than 2 years of work searching rare seeds and experimenting with them in various parts of the garden, we finally have enough valuable plants to start a nursery. This will be dedicated to permaculture projects but also for homesteaders that are looking for perennial and hardy alternatives for the well-known annual veggies.

Here I will post a part of the plants I experimented with this year.

Siberian Kale (Brassica oleracea) is a hardy plant from the cabbage familly that will last for at least 3-4 years providing fresh green both in the summer and in winter. The taste of the leaf is actually getting better with the first frost. The plant is very resilient and it resisted the slug attack because it grew very fast. We planted it outside as well where it grew smaller but still looks happy.

American groundnut (Apios americana) is a perennial vine with a root similar to a potato and the aerial part of the plant is simmilar to a climbing bean. The great thing about it is that to root and the seed pods are edible and very nutritious. Even if it takes 2 years to produce a few hundred grams tuber, the waiting is worth it. The tubers contains 17% crude protein and, although I never taste it it is said to be delicious too. It is developping really well in the greenhouse and next year we will replant some tubers outside.

Cucamelon (Melothria scabra) is a prolific vine that produces little cucumbers that looks like tiny watermelons. The taste is slightly acid and refreshing. In warmer climate is a perennial plant but in my zone 7, the roots are stored overwinter in moist compost in a shed and planted back in spring. The fruits are already forming and starting to rippen. It can be planted both in a greenhouse or outside. Next year we will be experimenting with this plant outside and we will try to leave it for the winter under a thick layer of mulch.