Plant once, pick forever
Once established, perennial plants will provide a bountiful harvest every year for many years. Three that are easy to grow are asparagus, horseradish and rhubarb. They are seldom bothered by insects and diseases, and all require about the same growing conditions: a sunny location and a deep soil rich in organic matter. Because these hardy edibles will occupy the same space for years, plant them at the end of the garden where they won’t interfere with the soil preparation and growing of annual veggies, or plant the three in a place of their own. Each is an attractive ornamental, suitable as a border planting in front of a wall or fence, or as a background for annual and perennial flowers.
Asparagus is relatively expensive at the grocery store and loses quality quickly after picking, so it’s wise to grow your own. An asparagus bed is a long-term investment. Many plantings last 30 years or more, and can produce up to a half-pound of spears per foot of row over the eight-week harvest period in spring and summer.
Easily grown horseradish is an aggressive veggie. Its large taproot grows straight down, with secondary roots that usually grow out horizontally for three feet or more. When the taproot is harvested, even the tiniest pieces of leftover roots can sprout new plants that can quickly overrun the garden. The best way to avoid this disaster is to plant horseradish in its own bed, or corral it in a bottomless barrel at the end of the garden.