Learn to be a lazy farmer,,, even in the city

Well maybe not lazy but fairly easy to manage, even for physically challenged folks. Try trees and perennials! Most people are intimidated by gardening, the digging, weeding, fertilizing, watering and so on. Yet many of us would like to know where our food comes from, would like to be more eco friendly or just need to save money.

So what can be grown in the Western PA region that you plant once and watch grow for years? Many native plants and quite a few European cultivators are able to thrive in zone 6.

Apples, cherries, pears, oranges, figs, lemons, limes….all were introduced to North America by settlers.  We can grow some of them here in the Pittsburgh area, but what about the native species growing in the rural areas around us? Try an American cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon, also related to the Northern highbush, V. corymbosum and lowbush, blueberry, V. angustifolium. The American grape, Vitis labrusca, the most well-known, is the Concord grape, Vitis x labrusca, but also includes Catawba, Delaware, and Niagara grape. Lesser-known native fruits include the American Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), beach plum (Prunus maritima), and saw palmetto (Serenoa repens). Not as large as the more common Asian variety, the American persimmon, (Diospyros virginiana), and the exotic pawpaw (Asimina triloba) can be grown further north as well.  While not native, the autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb) is resistant to disease and prolific (just found out it is an invasive species, but with some huge beneficial attributes). Don't forget berries; blackberries (Rubus fruticosus), raspberries (Rubus occidentalis) , elderberries (Sambucus nigra), gooseberries ( Ribes hirtellum) , even mulberries (Morus rubra) . As far as nuts, locally all of the following can be grown; hickory, hazelnuts, walnuts, butternuts, beechnuts and pecans do fine.

As far as vegetables, there are many to chose from, just start by adding one or two to your beds this year. Sunflower like Sunchokes can be secretly grown in front yard flower beds. Artichokes and asparagus are more familiar perennials. Sea Kale, the mother of all cultivated kales, are more tender and milder flavored as is it's perennial arugula equivalent. Rhubarb grows wonderfully here, and although is a vegetable, satisfies as fruit in pies and preserves. Egyptian or walking onions are not quite perennial but the top growing baby bulbs easily reseeds themselves.

And for those of you who like lists:D-

Arrowhead, Sagittaria sagittifolia
Arugula, rocket, Diplotaxis erucoides
Asparagus, Asparagus officinalis
Chicory, Cichorium sp.
Comfrey, Symphytum sp.
Earth Pea, Lathyrus tuberosa
Elephant Garlic, Allium ampeloprasum
Garlic, Allium sativum
Ginger, Zingiber officinale
Globe artichoke, Cynara scolymus
Golden shallots, Allium cepa var. aggregatum
Ground nut, Agrios americana
Horseradish, Amoracia sp.
Jerusalem artichokes, sunchoke, Helianthus tuberosus
Oca, New Zealand yam, Oxalis tuberosa
Peruvian parsnip, Arracacia xanthorrhiza
Rhubarb, Rhuem rhabarbarum
Sea beet, Beta vulgaris ssp.maritima
Sea kale, Crambe maritima
Sorrel, Rumex acetosa
Waterchestnuts, Eleocharis dulcis
Welsh onion, Allium sp.

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