Perennial vegetables are making a big splash in the gardening world, especially in the fall, and it’s not hard to see why! Unlike annuals that need to be replanted every year, perennial vegetables come back year after year, offering a sustainable and low-maintenance way to enjoy fresh produce without the repeated effort. I know how tiring it can be to start from scratch each season, but with perennials, you plant once and then reap the rewards for years!
Fall is a fantastic time to start thinking about adding perennial vegetables to your garden. These hardy plants often thrive in cooler weather and can provide a continuous harvest throughout the year. Plus, they contribute to a healthier garden ecosystem by providing habitat and food for beneficial insects and wildlife. Let’s explore some of the best perennial vegetables to grow this fall, and why they’re such a game-changer for anyone looking to garden smarter, not harder!
Asparagus
Asparagus is one of the most popular perennial vegetables and for good reason! Native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia, this plant offers a delicious spring harvest, but the time to plant it is in the fall. By starting asparagus now, you give it the time it needs to establish strong roots and prepare for a bountiful yield come spring. Asparagus beds, once established, can produce reliably for 15-20 years—talk about a return on investment!
Asparagus is also fantastic for wildlife. Its tall, feathery fronds provide a perfect habitat for beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings, which help keep your garden pest-free. Birds may also use the dense foliage for cover and nesting. And don’t worry, asparagus isn’t invasive; it stays where you plant it, slowly expanding to fill its space. While it requires a bit of patience to get started (usually two to three years before your first real harvest), once it takes off, it’s a gift that keeps on giving!
Rhubarb
Rhubarb is another fantastic perennial vegetable that deserves a spot in your fall garden. Native to Siberia, rhubarb thrives in cooler climates and gets a head start when planted in the fall. Its striking red stalks and large, textured leaves add a dramatic flair to any garden bed. I’ve always found rhubarb to be a real showstopper—it’s both beautiful and functional, offering a tart, tangy flavor that’s perfect for pies, sauces, and even savory dishes!
But rhubarb isn’t just about its culinary uses. Its large leaves create a canopy that helps suppress weeds, reducing maintenance and keeping the soil cooler in the warmer months. It’s such a relief to see fewer weeds popping up around your prized plants! Rhubarb is not considered invasive, so you can plant it with confidence, knowing it will stay put. Just remember, while the stalks are edible, the leaves are toxic, so keep them away from curious pets or children.
Sorrel
Sorrel is a lesser-known but delightful perennial vegetable that’s gaining popularity in gardens worldwide. Native to Europe and Asia, this leafy green has a tangy, lemony flavor that makes it a perfect addition to salads, soups, and sauces. What’s great about sorrel is that it thrives in cooler weather, which makes fall the perfect time to plant it. It’s hardy, low-maintenance, and will come back year after year, providing fresh greens even in early spring when most other crops are just waking up.
Sorrel also offers benefits beyond the kitchen. It attracts beneficial insects like bees and ladybugs, which help pollinate other plants in your garden and keep pest populations in check. And don’t worry about it taking over—sorrel is not invasive, though it may self-seed a bit if you let it flower. It’s a great choice for filling those tricky spots in your garden where other plants struggle to thrive. I love watching sorrel’s bright green leaves pop up in the garden when most everything else is starting to fade!
Jerusalem Artichokes
Jerusalem artichokes, also known as sunchokes, are a wonderful addition to any fall garden. Native to central North America, these tubers are related to sunflowers and produce bright yellow flowers in the late summer and early fall, adding a cheerful splash of color to your landscape. The edible tubers, which grow underground, have a nutty, slightly sweet flavor that’s perfect for roasting, sautéing, or even raw in salads. I’ve found that they’re a real hit at fall gatherings!
What makes Jerusalem artichokes especially appealing is their ability to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. The tall, sturdy stems also provide excellent cover for birds and small mammals, creating a mini-ecosystem within your garden. However, a word of caution—they can be somewhat invasive, spreading through underground tubers. To keep them in check, consider planting them in containers or a designated garden area. With just a little management, you can enjoy their beauty and their bounty without worry.
Walking Onions
Walking onions, also known as Egyptian onions or tree onions, are a fascinating perennial vegetable that practically takes care of itself! These quirky plants, native to parts of Central Asia, produce small bulbs at the top of their stalks that eventually fall over and “walk” a few feet away to root themselves anew. This unique behavior gives them their name, and trust me, it’s such fun to see where they end up each year!
Walking onions are incredibly hardy and can survive harsh winters, making them a great choice for a fall planting. They require minimal care, and their strong flavor is perfect for soups, stews, and salads. And while they might spread a bit, they’re not truly invasive; you can easily manage their movement by harvesting the top bulbs before they drop. Plus, their blooms attract bees and other beneficial insects, adding extra life and vitality to your garden.
Perennial Kale
Perennial kale is a wonderful addition to the fall garden, providing nutritious, leafy greens year after year without the need to replant. Unlike its annual cousins, perennial kale is hardy and can survive cold winters, making it perfect for fall planting. Varieties like ‘Daubenton’s’ and ‘Tree Collards’ are particularly well-suited to perennial growing. They produce delicious leaves that are tender enough for salads but sturdy enough to hold up in hearty soups and stews.
This type of kale is also a great plant for attracting wildlife. It’s a favorite of bees and butterflies, especially when it flowers, providing essential nectar when other sources are scarce. And don’t worry about it spreading where it shouldn’t; perennial kale is not invasive, and in fact, it tends to stay in a manageable clump. I find it incredibly rewarding to see those green leaves thriving, even when the frost sets in—it’s like a promise of fresh, homegrown veggies all year round!
Lovage
Lovage is an underappreciated perennial herb that deserves a place in every fall garden. Native to Southern Europe, it tastes a bit like celery but with a stronger, more robust flavor that works wonders in soups, stews, and stocks. Lovage grows tall—up to six feet!—and its lush, green foliage adds height and texture to your garden beds. Plus, it’s a wonderful herb to have on hand for culinary adventures in the kitchen.
Lovage is also excellent for attracting beneficial insects. Its small, yellow flowers are a magnet for bees and ladybugs, which help pollinate other plants and keep pests at bay. And don’t worry, lovage isn’t invasive; it grows in tidy clumps and is easy to manage. I love having lovage in my garden—it brings both flavor and a touch of elegance, and I always find a use for it in the kitchen, especially during the colder months.
Sea Kale
Sea kale is a perennial vegetable that brings both beauty and bounty to your garden. Native to the coastal regions of Europe, it produces broad, blue-green leaves that are tender and delicious when young. In the spring, sea kale sends up white flower spikes that add visual interest and attract a host of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. It’s a perfect plant for those who want something unique in their fall garden.
What’s more, sea kale is incredibly hardy and can tolerate a wide range of conditions, from sandy soils to salty air. It’s not invasive, so it will stay where you plant it, spreading slowly over time. Sea kale is easy to care for and thrives with minimal attention, making it ideal for gardeners who want low-maintenance options that still offer plenty of rewards. I’ve found that its unique flavor, which is slightly nutty and cabbage-like, adds a delightful twist to salads and side dishes.
Fall gardening with perennial vegetables is an exciting way to enjoy fresh, homegrown produce while reducing the amount of work you have to do each year. These plants not only come back season after season, but they also support a more sustainable and wildlife-friendly garden.
