The anticipation of spring is good news for everyone, but especially gardeners, who can finally start to see their outdoor spaces burst into life again. The long harsh winter is finally a thing of the past, and it won’t be long before we’re spending our afternoons and weekends relaxing in the sunshine.
One of the great things about this time of year is how easy it can be to start growing your own produce. Even if you’re just starting out in the gardening world, there are plenty of easy vegetables to plant in spring. But according to experts on TikTok, two are easier and more ‘underrated’ than the rest.
The pros at In The Cottage Garden say that two little-known vegetables can last for ‘years’ if they’re planted now, and as well as being long-lasting and hardy, they’re also delicious – making them an excellent choice for beginners.
Here’s why you should be growing them in your garden.
Perennial Kale
This leafy green is a staple in so many dishes, and it’s also very easy to grow.
The experts said: “It lives for multiple years, meaning you can get years’ worth of harvests from just one planting.
“It can be used in the exact same way as regular kale, but it’s ‘much more resilient to pests’ and also less effort to grow.”
The experts added: “It also survives pretty ferocious caterpillar attacks. It can easily be grown from cuttings – just cut off a side shoot, remove most of the leaves, and poke it into a pot of compost.”
According to Propagation Place, perennial kale can live for up to 10 years, giving you delicious greens that are a great source of Vitamin A, potassium and calcium.
Welsh onions
This type of bunching onion is another plant which can live for many years, making it a good option for beginner gardeners.
The experts said: “You can pick their leaves again and again and use them as you would any other green onion.
“You can grow them quite easily from seed, and once you’ve got an established plant, you can lift it, divide it, and replant each section to go on to grow a new clump of onions.”
These veggies are said to be easier to grow than their annual counterparts. They are also more resilient, and it’s even said that they’re more nutritious too.
The experts explained: “This is due to their extensive root systems.”