Consider growing edible perennials in South Florida as spring brings on the heat and winter veggies begin to wither.
Growing up in Philly, I experienced the full range of the four seasons each year and thus the birth, death and dormancy cycle of mostly all trees and plants with the exception of evergreen species. The winter season was used for garden planning, which took place indoors. Spring renewal meant that my grandmother could prepare her gardening strip in the back of her row home by removing weeds, laying down fresh garden soil and sowing seeds and seedlings to complement the apple and fig trees that anchored the mini-garden to the back driveway. Summer allowed gardeners to reap spring harvests while following up with the next round of seeds and plants ready to take on the heat. Fall signaled the wrapping up of any last gardening projects, harvesting and food preserving. What could be more traditional, conventional and predictable than this seasonal cycle? This was my grandmother's gardening experience and continues to be for a majority of gardeners throughout the continental United States. However, it has been far from my reality here in Zone 10a.
Imagine moving to South Florida, where we only experience 2 seasons of the year--warm and hot--with a few cool to cold days between December and February thrown in for good measure. As a newbie gardener, I had such an excitement to revive the childhood memories of my grandmother's spring-through-summer gardening success by growing kale, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage among other temperate-climate-loving fruits and veggies. These all seemed like reasonable gardening goals until I hit the wall--the Zone 10a wall. My summer dreams quickly melted under the intense heat and so did my lettuce. Conventional gardening wisdom flew out the door, and I opened the windows of my mind seeking to learn useful methods for turning sandy soil into a quality growing medium as well as researching the best performing plants in this unique growing zone.
Why edible perennials?
Consider the following 5 reasons:
Perennial edibles are hard to kill. They are well-adapted for hot and moist climates and should require little maintenance such as pruning and occasional (not frequent) pest management. Most of the perennials best suited for our growing zone come from tropical regions where they grow abundantly and to extraordinary sizes in their natural habitat.
Perennial edibles allow for little to no disturbance of the soil and its numerous micro-organisms. Vigorous growers can also provide shelter, shade and habitat for local wildlife.
These garden exotics make for excellent ground covers in both shaded and full sun areas providing more water retention in the soil.
A good majority of these plants are high in nutrients with added health benefits and medicinal qualities.
Lastly, many of these plants respond well to propagation through cuttings, thus shorting the time from planting to harvest.
Consider these 5 edible perennials for your garden.
Let me introduce the following 5 edible perennials in my garden--essentially plants you can harvest from year round--that grow virtually maintenance free in our subtropical climate. No doubt I am continuing to learn of the wide range of plant options that exists, and what I share is not nearly exhaustive. Within the last few months, I have begun including these amazing underutilized perennials in the garden. One plant at a time, I choose the best growing location and sometimes clear out ornamental shrubs in exchange for my food-bearing buddies. So, let's get to these time-saving, money-sparing, energy-boosting plants that I hope will make their way into your garden.
1. Longevity Spinach (Gynura procumbens)
Great for ground cover in partially shaded areas and under trees.
2. Okinawa spinach (Gynura bicolor)
A fun colorful addition (green on one side of the leaf and purple on the other) to a partially shaded garden area or in full sun with plenty of water.
3. Chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius)
This perennial is also known by the name of "Tree Spinach". ***Important: You must boil and drain the leaves prior to eating.*** A fast grower, Chaya cuttings are the best way to propagate additional plants.
4. Katuk (Sauropus androgynus) - This can be grown in shade and full sun. However, it needs consistent moisture to grow well.
5. Cranberry Hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella)
This should be grown in full sun, especially to enjoy its reddish pink flowers. The leaves have a bright, tart flavor, and the flowers are edible as well.
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