Perennial Vegetables to try in Phoenix Part 1

[Liz & Dan]

There was a fantastic book published in 2007 that should be a part of every permaculturalist's library. Perennial Vegetables by Eric Toensmeier is a fantastic resource for those of us trying to find ways to grow food without having to spend every spare minute tending to the garden. So this list from his book (plus a little from my learning) is a first step to find vegetables and greens (not fruits or much trees really – that will be another list) that are worth trying to grow in our desert climate. Some will grow with minimal inputs and some only within significantly altered microclimates (and others not at all – for instance I have had zero luck with rhubarb even though it is on the list below). Let's try experimenting with perennials and share what we find works well! If any of you have tried or can find these plants, please share your experiences. Thanks!

Perennials for the Southwest - Arid & Hot -  This region covers the low and mid-elevation deserts and hot, dry lands of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and SW California.  this region corresponds with USDA Zones 8-10 and Sunset Zones 10, 12, 13, 29, 30.

This region can grow all the species listed for the hot and humid zone if sufficient irrigation is provided (we can look thru that when we get together).  In addition, the following species are drought tolerant:

Little to no irrigation:
saltbush Atriplex halimus
bull nettles Cnidoscolus spp.
spineless nopale cactus Opunita spp. (NOTE: there are a lot of opuntias, I don't know which one specifically this author is referring to...)

Perennial without irrigation in warmer arid regions, or perennial with protection:
'stingless' chaya (as a dieback perennial)  Cnidoscolus chayamansa
hyacinth bean Lablab purpureus
cassava Manihot esculenta
moringa - Moringa oleifera & stenopetala (as a dieback perennial) (I have just planted)
lima bean Phaseolus lunatus
new Zealand spinach Tetragonia tetragonioides

To add to that list I would include these from the Desert Botanical Gardens listing for this area specifically:

For human consumption:
Wolfberry Lycium exsertum, L. fremontii - berries! Bush leaves can be green thru summer
Desert hackberry Celtis pallida -berries
Jojoba Simmondsia chinensis - edible seeds/nuts in small quantities - also oil from seed
Chuparosa Justicia californica - edible flower, cucumber taste
Ocotillo Fouquieria splendens - edible flower, astringent taste but nectar is sweet
Mesquites Prosopis pubescens (screwbean), velutina (velvet), glandulosa (honey) - pods ground flour
Foothills Palo Verde Parkinsonia microphylla - pods (when young steam like edamame!)
Great for Wildlife:
Gray Thorn Zizyphus Obtusifolia - seed/fruit edible for both humans & animals lots of thorns though - good security screen
Quailbush Atripliex lentiformis - seeds for quail
Sacred Datura Datura wrightii - lots of flowers!! - bee, hummer and butterfly attractor!Hopbush Dodonaea viscosa - native alt for oleander + produces seed for wildlife Desert Milkweed Asclepias subulata - must have full sun - essential food for Monarch & Queen butterflies
Fishook Barrel Ferocactus wislizeni - lots of fruits for wildlife!
Pincushion Cactus mammilaria grahamii M tetrancistra - fruit for wildlife + lots of blooms for nectar when blooming

[Rachel]

The Opuntia most commonly used for eating the pads is the Indian Fig (O. ficus-indica). Super easy to grow, available all over the valley and a fast grower to boot! I picked and used some with my scrambled eggs the other morning. (Pick young pads for best results) You are supposed to boil the cleaned pads for awhile to get some of the sliminess to go away. I was surprised at how mucilaginous it was. More than okra.
I'd love to get a couple wolfberries going. I've had chichiquelite (another solanum sp.) which has good-tasting berries, but since the jury seems to be out on whether or not they're poisonous, I just pulled mine.

[Randy]

Hi Liz and Dan. Interesting. Have you got any of these started yet? I'm looking for things just like this for my garden.

[Liz & Dan]

I have starts for the Moringa sten. and olifera going, they sprouted well from seeds I purchased from a supplier in FL. Additionally this spring I purchased a couple of chayote from Ranch Market and sprouted them, we'll see where that goes... One of my Hyacinth bean plants proved perennial this year and is coming back.

We are still in the process of converting a section of our yard to a native non-irrigated plot, until that conversion is finished (no bermuda grass left) I'm holding off planting any of the native desert plantings (although many of them can be pretty easily come by as plants at local nurseries or at the DBG twice annual Plant Sale, there are also many online sources for seeds for the natives try a google search). We have planted out a variety of native mesquites in the area and the next natives I plan on adding are an opuntia, chuparosa and wolfberry once the dryland plot is finished. The chuparosa flowers are a favorite of mine, they are very cucumber-y in taste!

[Liz & Dan]

Maybe we'll list saguaro with the next section "Perennial Fruit" for our area? I know some of my DBG additions are not strictly veggies... :) I was also thinking of creating specifically a list of Fruiting Trees for our area. From that list we can start making harvest calendars!