I have kept the perennial section of my garden very simple with only four items – asparagus, blueberries, currants and rhubarb. With very little know-how and maintenance I have these nutritious seasonal treats come back year after year.
The main thing is to keep the weeds under control. Mulch will help with that.
Here are some quick facts on care for asparagus, blueberries, currants and rhubarb.
Asparagus
- Harvest the second year when spears are wider than a pencil and about six inches tall.
- When side shoots start to appear, the plant has gone to seed and is creating strength for next year.
- Cut back plant in the fall.
Blueberries
- Select two or more varieties so the plants can cross-pollinate.
- Mulch heavily. Blueberries like acidic soil.
- Let fruit stay on the bushes for about 10 days after it turns blue to get the highest sugar content and most flavour.
- Cut out some of the branches leaving one main branch for every year of the plants age.
Currants
- Mulch heavily and keep ground free of weeds.
- Currants only produce fruit on previous years wood so in early winter cut back wood that has already fruited. Look for little stalks from the berries that were on it.
Rhubarb
- Only harvest big, thick stalks; leave thin stalks to nourish the plant.
- Never harvest more than half the stems in one year.
- Do not cut the stems as this lets in rot. Simply pull the stems from the plant.
- When plant flowers, cut it off so energy is put into producing more fruit.
- Stop harvesting in July and allow plant to die and nourish its soil.
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