Growing Conditions

• Wherever you live you can plant some perennial vegetables that will thrive in your climate. Check your garden zone on the USDA planting zones map to make sure the perennial will thrive in your garden. Eric Toensmeier, in his book "Perennial Vegetables," lists over 100 varieties of perennial vegetables. He says that some will grow in the least desirable corners of the garden, in poor soil, wet spots or dry patches.
  
  

Stalks and Shoots

• Asparagus is a well-known vegetable perennial. It likes full sun and soil that is slightly sandy. There are other stalks and shoots that come back every year. Bamboo shoots can be hard to handle because they can become invasive. But with careful tending you can be eating tender shoots from your own garden. Rhubarb, a vegetable used as a fruit, likes a little chill and partial shade. The sour stalks can be made into jams and pies and chutney.
  
  

Bulbs

• Bulbs in the flower garden or in the vegetable garden are low maintenance. When it comes to vegetables that are propagated from bulbs you will find bunching onions and garlic. Bunching onions propagate themselves and grow in even cold climates. Garlic is a popular perennial that many cooks could not cook without. Planted in the fall, they pop up in the spring.
  
  

Roots

• Among the root vegetables that are perennial is the little-know plant called skirret. Its roots are long and thin and ready to eat after the second season. This vegetable not only does well in the cold andmoist conditions, but is quite pest resistant. Horseradish is a hardy perennial that makes at spicy mustard or sauce for meat. Don't harvest the tap root, just the smaller side roots. The taproot will keep the plant producing in the coming year.
  
  

Greens

• Many greens come in perennial varieties. Among them are some types of kale and collard greens, favorites in the annual garden. For something to toss in the salad look for radicchio in the springtime. Watercress can go in the salad too. If you are in a warmer zone, try Malabar spinach. The walking stick cabbage is an unusual perennial green. It resembles a small palm tree, its fronds look like collard greens and work well in an autumn stew.