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Perennial vegetables : from artichoke to zuiki taro, a gardener's guide to over 100 delicious, easy-to-grow edibles / by Eric Toensmeir [sic].

By: Material type: TextTextPublication details: White River Junction, Vt. : Chelsea Green Pub., c2007.Description: xi, 241 p. : ill. (some col.), maps ; 26 cmISBN:
  • 9781931498401
  • 1931498407 :
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 635 22
Contents:
Gardening with perennial vegetables -- Plant profiles.
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Holdings
Item type Current library Collection Shelving location Call number Status Notes Date due Barcode Item holds
Adult Book Phillipsburg Free Public Library Adult Non-Fiction Adult Non-Fiction 635 TOE Available pap.ed. 36748001718479
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

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.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Gardening with perennial vegetables -- Plant profiles.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

  • Preface (p. xi)
  • Part I Gardening with Perennial Vegetables
  • 1 A New Class of Food Plants (p. 1)
  • 2 Design Ideas (p. 9)
  • 3 Selecting Species (p. 21)
  • 4 Techniques (p. 35)
  • Part II Species Profiles
  • Using This Book (p. 75)
  • Alismataceae: The Water-Plantain Family (p. 78)
  • Arrowhead
  • Alliaceae: The Onion Family (p. 80)
  • Multiplier Onions
  • Ramps
  • Other Perennial Alliums
  • Amaranthaceae: The Amaranth Family (p. 84)
  • Sissoo Spinach
  • Apiaceae: The Celery Family (p. 85)
  • Arracacha
  • Article: "Lost Crops of the Incas"
  • Lovage
  • Water Celery
  • Skirret
  • Araceae: The Aroid Family (p. 90)
  • Edible Aroids (Taro, Belembe, Tannier)
  • Article: Calcium Oxalate
  • Araliaceae: The Spikenard Family (p. 93)
  • Udo
  • Asteraceae: The Aster Family (p. 94)
  • Chicory and Dandelion
  • Globe Artichoke
  • Okinawa Spinach
  • Sunchoke
  • Article: Inulin
  • Fuki
  • Scorzonera
  • Yacon
  • Basellaceae: The Malabar Spinach Family (p. 103)
  • Malabar Spinach
  • Ulluco
  • Brassicaceae: The Cabbage Family (p. 105)
  • Perennial Brassicas (Cabbage, Kale, and Broccoli)
  • Article: Pests and Diseases of the Brassica Family
  • Turkish Rocket
  • Sea Kale
  • Sylvetta Arugula
  • Watercress
  • Cactaceae: The Cactus Family (p. 113)
  • Nopale Cactus
  • Cannaceae: The Canna Family (p. 115)
  • Achira
  • Caricaceae: The Papaya Family (p. 117)
  • Papaya
  • Chenopodiaceae: The Goosefoot Family (p. 119)
  • Saltbush
  • Article: Oxalic Acid
  • Sea Beet
  • Good King Henry
  • Convolvulaceae: The Morning Glory Family (p. 123)
  • Water Spinach
  • Sweet Potato
  • Cucurbitaceae: The Squash Family (p. 127)
  • Perennial Cucumber
  • Malabar Gourd
  • Bitter Melon
  • Chayote
  • Article: Extending the Range of Chayote and Other
  • Day-Length-Sensitive Plants
  • Cyperaceae: The Sedge Family (p. 133)
  • Chufa
  • Water Chestnut
  • Dioscoreaceae: The Yam Family (p. 136)
  • Air Potato
  • Article: Air Potato: An Ecological Conundrum?
  • Yams
  • Dryopteridaceae: The Wood-Fern Family (p. 141)
  • Ostrich Fern
  • Euphorbiaceae: The Spurge Family (p. 142)
  • Chaya
  • Bull Nettles
  • Cassava Katuk
  • Fabaceae: The Pea Family (p. 146)
  • Groundnut
  • Basul
  • Hyacinth Bean
  • Water Mimosa
  • Perennial Beans
  • Winged Bean
  • Lamiaceae: The Mint Family (p. 154)
  • Chinese Artichoke
  • Liliaceae: The Lily Family (p. 155)
  • Asparagus
  • Yellow Asphodel
  • Camass
  • Daylily
  • Giant Solomon's Seal
  • Malvaceae: The Mallow Family (p. 161)
  • Edible Hibiscus
  • Cranberry Hibiscus
  • Musk Mallow
  • Meliaceae: The Neem Family (p. 164)
  • Fragrant Spring Tree
  • Moraceae: The Mulberry Family (p. 165)
  • Breadfruit
  • Moringaceae: The Moringa Family (p. 167)
  • Moringa
  • Musaceae: The Banana Family (p. 169)
  • Plantain and Green Banana
  • Nelumbonaceae: The Lotus Family (p. 173)
  • Water Lotus
  • Oxalidaceae: The Wood-Sorrel Family (p. 175)
  • Oca
  • Phytolaccaceae: The Pokeweed Family (p. 176)
  • Pokeweed
  • Haitian Basket Vine
  • Poaceae: The Grass Family (p. 178)
  • Clumping Bamboos
  • Running Bamboos
  • Article: Rhizome Barriers for Aggressive Running Bamboos
  • Pitpit
  • Polygonaceae: The Smartweed Family (p. 183)
  • Rhubarb
  • Sorrel
  • Solanaceae: The Nightshade Family (p. 186)
  • Wolfberry
  • Ground Cherry and Goldenberry
  • Pepino Dulce
  • Peppers, Tomatoes, Eggplants, and Potatoes
  • Article: Pests and Diseases of the Nightshade Family
  • Tetragoniaceae: The New Zealand Spinach Family (p. 192)
  • New Zealand Spinach
  • Tiliaceae: The Linden Family (p. 193)
  • Linden
  • Tropaeolaceae: The Nasturtium Family (p. 193)
  • Mashua
  • Urticaceae: The Nettle Family (p. 195)
  • Stinging Nettle and Wood Nettle
  • Part III Resources
  • Perennial Vegetables for Each Climate Type (p. 201)
  • Recommended Reading (p. 211)
  • Helpful Organizations and Web Sites (p. 214)
  • Sources of Plants and Seeds (p. 216)
  • Sources of Gardening Supplies and Materials (p. 221)
  • Bibliography (p. 223)
  • Index (p. 228)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

While there are many books available on growing well-known perennial vegetables like corn and peas, plant specialist Toensmeier's (coauthor, Edible Forest Gardens) work is unique, as the author has grown, cooked, and eaten many of the more than 100 species of vegetables he profiles. In Part 1, he introduces perennial vegetables and discusses their benefits and drawbacks. He also includes design, selection, and general cultural information and addresses propagation techniques. Part 2 is a series of plant profiles arranged alphabetically by plant family. Major vegetables such as asparagus and rhubarb garner a general overview, a description, cultural information, information on pests and diseases, propagation, harvest and storage, usage, and preferred climate (with USDA hardiness zones). Comparatively minor crops rate an overview of a few paragraphs. In Part 3, Toensmeier lists these vegetables by preferred climate, recommended reading, and sources for plants and seeds, as they may be difficult to find. Dozens of color images, growing tips, and recipes round out this thorough, easy-to-understand book. Some of these vegetables may be an acquired taste, and some require careful cooking before eating; recommended for public, academic, and botanical libraries.-Sue O'Brien, Downers Grove P.L., IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

Part of the allure of perennial gardening is the fact that a gardener can plant something once and enjoy it for several years, a benefit that has rarely been extended to vegetable gardeners. Save for such stalwarts as asparagus and rhubarb, most edible crops can be used only annually. Thanks to Toensmeier, gardeners need no longer be frustrated by such limitations. From air potatoes to water celery, Turkish rocket to Malabar gourd, there are more than 100 new species of edible plants. After addressing such cultural basics as site selection and preparation, Toensmeier explains why each plant is an excellent perennial vegetable crop. Now that such items are making their way onto trendy restaurant menus and health-store shelves, Toensmeier's groundbreaking guide is destined to become the bible for this new class of edible gardening. --Carol Haggas Copyright 2007 Booklist
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