Knowing the difference between perennials, biennials, and annuals is important because it helps gardeners make better choices about what to plant, where to plant it, and how to care for it.

PERENNIALS:

Perennials are my favorite type of plants. As you probably already know, perennials come back year after year. Their root systems are underground and stay intact and alive over the winter months. Then, the plants will spring back into action when the warmer weather returns. An ideal Edible & Herbal Food Forest will be overflowing with perennials. This makes for the least amount of work each year and really should be your main focus! Fill up your food forest or gardens with as many perennials first, then you can fill the spaces in between with all your annuals and biennials next!

Perennials come in different forms. Some, like hardy kiwi vines, will lose their leaves over winter, but the rest of the plant will stay intact above ground. A perennial plant that seasonally loses its leaves (and/or stems) is referred to as “deciduous!” You will notice when the time is right, they will start blooming again with beautiful, new foliage the following growing season! Some perennials, like ECHINACEA, will totally disappear above ground, almost looking dead, then spring back to life from the roots each year! 

ANNUALS:

An annual is a plant that only lasts for one growing season. It goes from seed to flower, then back to seed within one year. It will germinate, bloom, produce whatever it is you are growing, then die. Every part will die, including the roots underground. Plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, and beans are considered annuals here in PA!

SOME ANNUAL SEEDS produced by your annual plants will manage to survive over winter. A good example would be DILL! Even though dill is an annual, warm-weather plant, its seeds (if left outdoors on the ground) will actually overwinter in a cold climate like PA, germinate, and sprout the following season! These are what I call BONUS ANNUALS, because you never have to worry about planting them again. YOU KNOW the following season you will see them pop up all over, and it is your job to go around and look for them!

I am always prepared to find these each year, and possibly even move them to a new location, so they are positioned exactly where I want them. Pay close attention to what annuals you plant, and if the seeds survive the winter enough to come back again the following year. My EDIBLE BREAD-SEED POPPIES DO THIS! Every year I look patiently for those undeniable baby poppy plants to emerge!

BIENNIALS:

Biennials are actually FUN! They are almost a mixture of the two, perennials & annuals. They last the first year over winter like a perennial, but then die the second year like an annual, roots and ALL! They take TWO YEARS to seed themselves. The first year they will grow a wonderful root system with foliage on top. Then, they will die back over winter. Then, the second year, they will shoot back from the roots, and go to seed for you.

An example would be kale or parsley! Kale will produce a huge amount of leaves above ground in the first year, just keep picking & enjoying your delicious greens. Same for parsley, just keep picking and harvesting that first year. Then, the second year, after both pop back up again and produce plenty of leaves for you in the spring & summer, they will eventually go to seed once the super hot heat hits!

FINAL CONCLUSION:

YOU MUST KNOW THE DIFFERENCE between your perennials, annuals, and biennials, because each one requires different attention. IT IS NOT HARD. It's actually FUN learning the differences and experimenting with them ALL!

Don't forget to check out MY EDIBLE & HERBAL FOOD FOREST GUIDE available now. I walk you through these topics, and MORE, on a deeper level. My MUST-HAVE list of perennials, biennials, and annuals is also included in the guide!

Always remember:

The Future Is Worth The Patience Of The Present

-Michele

The Homemade Gardener