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On This Episode of The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Harold and Rachel Talk About Useful Perennials You Can Grow On Your Homestead That Multiply Through Division To Expand Your Garden.

The Modern Homesteading Podcast, Episode 196 – April 11, 2023

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A Few Useful Perennials You Can Multiply Through Division 

What are Crowns

Crowns are the part of a plant that lies beneath the soil surface and serves as the point from which new shoots emerge. Dividing a crown can be done using various tools such as a garden fork, sharp spade, knife, or by hand, depending on the size of the plant.

For plants that experience a period of dormancy, it’s best to divide them just before regrowth. In contrast, for plants that have leaves all year round, dividing them in early spring is ideal. However, it’s essential to cut back the leaves by two-thirds to prevent water loss and wilting during the development of new shoots.

What are Bulbs

Bulbs, like lilies, can be reproduced from fleshy leaf scales, with new bulbs sprouting from the parent bulb. When the bulbs are dormant, they can be separated from the parent bulb and planted separately. These new bulbs are referred to as bulblets or sometimes offsets.

What are Corms

Corms are often mistaken for bulbs due to their similar appearance. Unlike bulbs, corms lack modified leaves like the onion and are instead compressed stems. They cannot be separated into individual leaf scales.

Cormlets can be carefully separated from the parent corm and grown to produce new plants. If the cormlets are small, they should be grown in a container until they reach a suitable size for transplanting into a garden. It generally takes one or two years for a plant to reach flowering size.

What are Tubers

Tubers are categorized into two types: stem tubers and root tubers.

A stem tuber is an enlarged underground stem that can produce shoots from buds, also known as ‘eyes’. They can be divided either by cutting them into pieces or grown from a small tuber known as a ‘seed’ tuber.

A root tuber, on the other hand, is a swollen root that can be divided in spring, with each piece requiring a piece of the tuber that contains a bud.

What Are Runners and Stolons

Runners refer to the horizontal stems that emerge from a crown and are found below the ground. In contrast, stolons are located above ground level. Nodes along the runner produce both roots and shoots, and the newly formed plantlets at these nodes can be separated from the runner and transplanted. For optimal growth, it is recommended to transplant the plantlets into moist, fertile soil that is easy to crumble.

What Are Rhizomes

Rhizomes refer to the stems that grow beneath the soil surface, which can be divided by cutting the parent plant into sections during its dormant phase. Each section must contain a bud at a node, from which new shoots and roots will emerge.

Perennials of These Types You Can Add To Your Homestead

Russian Comfrey

• Growing Zones 3-9
• Crown (Clump)
• Benefits
  • https://redemptionpermaculture.com/10-ways-to-use-comfrey-on-your-permaculture-homestead/ 

Daylilies

• Growing Zones 2-11
• Tubers
• Benefits
  • Edible
  • Attracts Pollinators
  • Hardy

Goldenrod

• Growing Zones 2-8
• Bulbs(Clump) and Rhizomes
• Benefits
  • Medicinal
  • Attracts Pollinators
  • Culinary – edible flowers, teas
  • Cosmetics

Yarrow

• Growing Zones 3-9
• Crown (Clump)
• Benefits
  • Dynamic Accumulator
  • Attracts Pollinators and Other Beneficial Insects
  • Medicinal

Lamb’s Ear

• Growing Zones 4-9
• Crown (Clump)
• Benefits
  • Groundcover
  • Medicinal
  • Traditionally used as toilet paper

Catmint

• Growing Zones 3-8
• Crown (Clump)
• Benefits
  • Tolerant
  • Edible
  • Attracts Some Pollinators
  • Deters Some Harmful Pests

Bee Balm

• Growing Zones 3-9
• Rhizome
• Benefits
  • Culinary
  • Medicinal
  • Attracts Pollinators

Rhubarb

• Growing Zones 3-8
• Crown (Clump), Rhizomes
• Benefits
  • Edible Stalks
  • Dynamic Accumulator
  • Groundcover

Asparagus

• Growing Zones 2-11
• Crown (Clump)
• Benefits
  • Long term edible perennial

Strawberries

• Growing Zones 4-9
• Crown (Clump) or Runners
• Benefits
  • Culinary

Raspberry

• Growing Zones 3-10
• Runners
• Benefits
  • Hardy
  • Culinary – Leaves and Berries

Blackberry

• Growing Zones 4-8
• Runners
• Benefits
  • Hardy
  • Culinary – Berries
  • Medicinal – Leaves

Gojiberry

• Growing Zones 5-9
• Runners
• Benefits
  • Hardy
  • Culinary
  • Highly Nutritious

Water Chestnut

• Growing Zones 9-11
• Corms
• Benefits
  • Culinary – Prolific
  • Highly Nutritious

Jerusalem Artichokes

• Growing Zones 3-8
• Tubers or Rhyzomes
• Benefits
  • Edible Tubers
  • Prolific
  • Attracts Pollinators

Russian Sage

• Growing zones 4-9
• Crown
• Benefits
  • Edible flowers
  • Medicinal
  • Easy to grow, can take over

Horseradish

• Grow zone 3-10
• Crown
• Benefits
  • Repellent
  • Culinary

Wormwood

• Grow zone 4-9
• Crown
• Benefits
  • Great for worming
  • Deters many insects and pests

Echinacea

• Grow zone 4-9
• Crown
• Benefits
  • Medicinal
  • Pollinators
  • Bird attractor

Chives 

• Grow zones 3-10
• Bulbs
• Benefits
  • Culinary
  • Medicinal
  • Animal deterrent 

This Week’s Recommended Books

• Harold’s Pick – The Grafter’s Handbook by R.J. Garner https://amzn.to/43mmsbm 
• Rachel’s Pick – Moveable Insulation https://amzn.to/3m0XnlD 

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