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star perennial broccoli is a white-flowered sprouting broccoli, and a perennial plant. However, it is a member of the brassica family and subject to the same pests and diseases as its relatives and so may be difficult to keep healthy for more than a few years. A more robust perennial brassica that is reappearing in kitchen gardens is sea kale. Sea kale is forced (covered to exclude light) to provide tender leaves with a subtle flavor in winter.

In the fruit garden, many of the plants are perennial. Trees such as apples, pears and plums will crop for many years even with minimal care. If you have the space then nut trees are also worth considering, but remember that planting a tree is an investment in the future you may not benefit for several years.

Berries such as raspberries and blackcurrants are also perennial, although not as long-lived as fruit trees. There are many lesser-known berries, such as Japanese wineberries, that are tasty and easy to grow. Many, being closer to their wild ancestors, will grow in less than ideal conditions and so are worth investigating if you have a shady spot.

Rhubarb is another perennial plant that will grow in difficult spots, and the leaf stalks are eaten as a cooked fruit. Established plants are tough and drought-tolerant and will provide a reliable and tasty crop early in the spring.

These relatively well-known plants are just the tip of the iceberg as far as edible perennials go, and there is an almost endless choice if you want something more unusual. More planning is needed when you plant up a perennial vegetable bed as the plants won't want to be moved once they have become established. If you do some research on forest gardens then you can choose plants that will happily co-exist together, creating a productive and attractive perennial kitchen garden.

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