Fruit and Vegetables

In this collection you will find perennial fruit and vegetables for your own garden: strawberry plants such as 'Elsanta', 'Korona' and 'Mara des Bois', rhubarb, asparagus, artichokes and horseradish.
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The plants are supplied as bare-root stock and planted in spring. Once established, you can harvest for many years, in the bed, in a raised bed or, with strawberries, in a pot on the balcony.

Planting fruit and vegetables: strawberries, rhubarb and asparagus

Perennial crops are ideal if you do not want to sow afresh every year. The main types:

  • Strawberries (Fragaria): 'Elsanta' and 'Korona' are proven summer-fruiting varieties with large, aromatic fruit in June. 'Mara des Bois' and 'Ostara' crop repeatedly from June into autumn and taste reminiscent of wild strawberries. 'Polka' is an aromatic variety for the home garden.
  • Rhubarb (Rheum): varieties such as 'Holsteiner Blut', 'Canada Red' or 'Red Champagne' have red stalks with mild acidity, and 'Goliath' forms especially thick stalks.
  • Asparagus: 'Gijnlim' and 'Avalim' are high-yielding green and white asparagus varieties, while 'Pacific Purple' produces purple, sweetish spears.
  • Artichoke and horseradish 'Rusticana' complete the vegetable garden.

Planting time and position in Switzerland

Plant bare-root rhubarb, asparagus and horseradish in spring from March to April, as soon as the soil can be worked. Plant strawberries in spring or in late summer from July to August; they will then crop well the following year. All of them like a sunny spot. Rhubarb also tolerates partial shade and is very frost-hardy. Asparagus needs loose, sandy soil, strawberries humus-rich, slightly acidic to neutral soil.

Planting and care

  • Plant strawberries 25 to 30 cm apart in the row; the crown must stay just above the soil.
  • Rhubarb needs plenty of space: around 1 m apart, cover the buds with only 2 to 3 cm of soil and give plenty of compost.
  • Set asparagus in trenches 20 to 30 cm deep and fill them gradually with soil. Only harvest from the third year.
  • Do not harvest rhubarb in the first year, then harvest until the end of June. The leaves are not edible because of their oxalic acid.
  • Artichokes are only borderline hardy in Switzerland: in mild areas cover them with a thick layer of leaves, otherwise lift them and overwinter frost-free.
  • Horseradish spreads vigorously, so plant it with a root barrier or in a large container.

Uses

Strawberries grow well in raised beds, balcony boxes and hanging baskets. With their large leaves, rhubarb and artichoke also look decorative in a perennial border, and artichoke flowers are popular with bees.