I'm expanding my vegetable garden this year from 4 to 10 beds and I want to dedicate two of those for perennials, specifically asparagus and rhubarb. I'm a bit concerned about the fact that these plants won't yield anything for several years. Has anyone had good experiences growing other plants around them while they establish? I've heard strawberries might work. I'm also considering planting shallow-rooted annuals like salad greens. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!
5 Answers
Stick with shallow-rooted plants around your asparagus. I'm trying it this year too and have nasturtiums and calendula in my beds. Lettuce and similar greens would also work well. You might consider adding some annual flowers to attract pollinators while the perennials get settled. Just a tip: tomatoes and peppers are thought to keep asparagus beetles at bay, so they could be useful if you have extras!
I tried wild strawberries with my asparagus, but they grew so thick that it was hard to pick the berries, and they started choking out the asparagus. I'm going to switch it up this time and plant lettuce instead since I use a lot of it!
We don't eat much lettuce, but it sounds like it might work well. Are wild strawberries generally more aggressive than the cultivated kinds? I usually trim mine back each year.
If you're not planning to grow too much rhubarb, I've had success with it in a patch shared with various perennial herbs like chives, thyme, and oregano. They didn't compete much, and the herbs acted as nice ground covers for the taller plants. Just avoid any plants that look like rhubarb to steer clear of toxic mix-ups!
This is great advice! It sounds like herbs will complement my rhubarb nicely!
Rhubarb can easily shade out other plants, so it might be tough to grow anything nearby. But for asparagus, lettuce and strawberries are solid options. Annual flowers like zinnias could brighten up the space too!
Thanks! I was considering what to plant around the rhubarb early on before it gets too large and overshadowing. Zinnias would definitely add some color!
I've grown asparagus alongside strawberries and compact blackberries. This way, I get a yearly harvest while waiting for the asparagus to take off. The asparagus ferns fit right in between the strawberries, making the most of the space!
Ah that's brilliant, that's exactly what I'm wanting to do really. This way the bed is productive for more of the year. Thanks!
Thanks! In our climate (north UK), I've pretty much given up on outdoor tomatoes, but nasturtiums sound great, and herbs are a solid choice too!