10 Perennial Vegetables You Can Grow from Seed and Harvest for Years

• Saves time and effort – no need to replant every season.

• Builds soil health – roots stay in place, preventing erosion and improving microbial activity.

• Supports biodiversity – attracts pollinators, beneficial insects, and soil organisms.

• Mimics natural ecosystems – a key principle of permaculture.

We love planting seeds every spring. After all, seeds are our thing! We plan when to start seeds for all seasons of the year. However, there are perennial vegetables that we also love to grow. Perennial vegetables can live for multiple years and produce harvests season after season without needing to be replanted annually. Sounds like it’s almost too good to be true. But it is possible. Perennial vegetables—like asparagus, rhubarb, sorrel, and watercress—are a perfect choice for permaculture and low-maintenance gardens.

Asparagus may be one of the most popular perennial vegetables. It produces tender spears every spring and takes minimal maintenance. An asparagus patch can produce spears for over 20 years. So, even if it takes some time to get going, the payoff will last for years. Read more about growing asparagus from seed.

• A long-term investment that yields spears every spring for decades.

• Test your soil every 3 years to amend as needed.

• Permaculture Perks: Deep roots improve soil structure, and the ferny foliage provides a habitat for beneficial insects.

Strawberries that keep producing until the first frost? Yes, please! These heirloom strawberries are excellent for permaculture gardens. They’ll come back year after year and reward you with their sweet flavor. Read more about how to grow alpine strawberries from seed.

• Great for edible ground cover.

• Small, flavorful berries that continuously produce.

• Permaculture Perks: Excellent ground cover that reduces weeds and prevents soil erosion.

Rhubarb has been a reliable heirloom perennial for generations. It is loved for its tart, vibrant stalks and can grow in those out-of-the-way neglected garden corners. Read more about our tips for growing rhubarb.

• Hardy, low-maintenance, excellent for pies and preserves.

• Best if you wait until the second year to harvest.

• Permaculture Perks: Large leaves shade out weeds and create natural mulch.

A striking ornamental plant, artichokes are also delicious. Harvest the flower buds before they bloom for a tasty, healthy vegetable. You can also trick artichokes into producing buds the first year. Read more about how to grow artichokes from seed.

• Cold stratify seeds before planting.

• Thrives in warmer climates; produces edible flower buds for years.

• Permaculture Perks: Deep taproots break up compacted soil and pull up nutrients.

Radicchio is a bold, deep-red leafy vegetable that adds a gourmet touch to home gardens. Its crisp texture and slightly bitter flavor make it perfect for salads and grilling.

• Technically, it is a biennial, but it can behave as a perennial with the right care.

• Cold-hardy and develops deeper flavors over time.

• Permaculture Perks: Drought-tolerant and attracts pollinators when it flowers.

A nutrient-packed superfood that thrives in damp conditions, watercress provides a constant supply of peppery greens and grows well in ponds, streams, or container water gardens. Learn more about growing watercress indoors and outdoors.

• Recognized as one of the healthiest foods density-wise.

• Thrives in wet, shady areas.

• Permaculture Perks: Ideal for edge planting in rain gardens or alongside ponds.

Lovage is a perennial celery alternative with a rich, savory flavor. It also has a long history of use as a medicinal. The plant can grow up to six feet tall with lush leaves, making it a great companion plant that repels pests and attracts pollinators. Learn more about growing lovage.

• Perennial herb with a celery-like taste; grows back every year.

• Many culinary and medicinal uses.

• Permaculture Perks: Companion plant that repels pests and attracts pollinators.

One of the first greens to emerge in spring, sorrel is prized for its lemony tang and ability to self-seed, providing effortless harvests year after year. Hikers love to forage for this vegetable, but it is easy to grow in your home garden.

• Early spring green with a lemony flavor

• Thrives with minimal care.

• Permaculture Perks: Self-seeds naturally and works as a chop-and-drop mulch.

A hardy, low-maintenance perennial, chives provide mild onion-flavored leaves year after year. Their edible purple flowers attract pollinators and add beauty to the garden. They make a great companion plant in my Alpine strawberry patch. Read more about growing chives.

• Flavorful greens can be harvested as needed.

• Easy to grow and requires very little maintenance.

• Permaculture Perks: Their strong scent repels pests, and their purple blooms attract bees and butterflies, supporting biodiversity.

What are perennial vegetables?

Perennial vegetables are plants that live for multiple years, producing harvests season after season without needing to be replanted annually. If grown in a tropical environment, tomatoes can also be perennials.

How long does it take for perennial vegetables to produce a harvest?

It depends on the plant. Some, like sorrel and bunching onions, can be harvested in the first year, while others, like asparagus and rhubarb, take 2-3 years to establish before full production.

Do perennial vegetables require less maintenance than annuals?

Yes! Once established, they need less watering, fertilizing, and replanting than annuals. However, some may require occasional dividing, pruning, or mulching to maintain productivity.

Can perennial vegetables survive winter in cold climates?

Many are cold-hardy perennials, such as asparagus and sorrel, but some (like artichokes and scarlet runner beans) may need mulch or protection in colder zones.

Where is the best place to plant perennial vegetables?

Most thrive in a permanent garden bed, food forest, or permaculture garden. Some, like watercress, do best in wet conditions, while others prefer well-drained soil and full sun.

Can I grow perennial vegetables in containers?

Yes, but they may require larger pots and more frequent watering than in-ground plantings. Good options for containers include chives, alpine strawberries, and sorrel.

Sow Right Seeds offers a variety of heirloom, non-GMO perennial vegetable seeds so you can grow a sustainable, long-lasting garden.  Shop here!

Growing perennial vegetables is a smart, sustainable way to create a productive garden that thrives year after year. By planting long-lasting crops like asparagus, rhubarb, sorrel, and watercress, you’ll enjoy fresh harvests with less effort while improving your soil and supporting beneficial pollinators. 

Whether you're designing a permaculture-inspired food forest or simply want to add a few reliable, low-maintenance crops to your garden, these plants are an excellent choice.

Why replant every season when you can grow once and harvest for years? Get started with heirloom, non-GMO perennial vegetable seeds from Sow Right Seeds and plant a garden that will keep giving for seasons to come.