Perennial Gardening Guide

A gardener's guide to perennials covers major plants and includes problem solving tips.

This completely revised third edition of the bestselling classic The Well-Tended Perennial Garden is a must-have ally in the quest for a beautiful, well-maintained garden.

There is a fantastic array of vegetables you can grow in your garden, and not all of them are annuals. In Perennial Vegetables the adventurous gardener will find information, tips, and sound advice on less common edibles that will make any garden a perpetual, low-maintenance source of food. Imagine growing vegetables that require just about the same amount of care as the flowers in your perennial beds and borders--no annual tilling and potting and planting. They thrive and produce abundant and nutritious crops throughout the season. It sounds too good to be true, but in Perennial Vegetables author and plant specialist Eric Toensmeier (Edible Forest Gardens) introduces gardeners to a world of little-known and wholly underappreciated plants. Ranging beyond the usual suspects (asparagus, rhubarb, and artichoke) to include such "minor" crops as ground cherry and ramps (both of which have found their way onto exclusive restaurant menus) and the much sought after, anti-oxidant-rich wolfberry (also known as goji berries), Toensmeier explains how to raise, tend, harvest, and cook with plants that yield great crops and satisfaction. Perennial vegetables are perfect as part of an edible landscape plan or permaculture garden. Profiling more than 100 species, illustrated with dozens of color photographs and illustrations, and filled with valuable growing tips, recipes, and resources, Perennial Vegetables is a groundbreaking and ground-healing book that will open the eyes of gardeners everywhere to the exciting world of edible perennials.

Offers planting plans and plant descriptions to maximize the effects of color in a perennial garden

Have you ever wished you could bring a rainbow to your backyard and keep it all summer? If so, you could plant your own perennial garden. It will bring bright colors and beauty to your house year after year, whether you fill a few pots or fill your entire backyard. Follow these step-by-step instructions for planting a perennial garden, from figuring out which plants will grow best where you live to where you should plant each seed. As little green shoots stick up through the dirt to greet the sun and then turn into colorful blossoms, you will be glad for every minute you spent on your garden. It’s the best way to capture a rainbow of your very own!

Keep your perennial beds looking their best, season after season. From planning and planting to pruning and propagating, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know to maintain a stunning perennial garden. Nancy J. Ondra provides an in-depth, plant-by-plant guide that profiles 125 popular perennials, with helpful information on each plant’s soil, light, and water needs. Ondra’s expertise and passion for gardening, along with Rob Cardillo’s breathtaking photography, will inspire you to create a garden of your dreams that will last a lifetime.

Perennial vegetables are a joy to grow. With a long harvesting season, they are the clever way to garden and take care of the soil at the same time.