Plant Once, Harvest for Years: Perennials That Give You the Biggest Bang for Your Buck

If you’re dreaming of a garden that gives back year after year, focus on the best perennial plants to grow. These low-maintenance crops only need to be planted once but reward you with harvests for seasons to come. Whether you love fresh herbs, fragrant flowers, or homegrown veggies, perennials are the ultimate garden investment.

Here are five excellent perennial crops to consider. They’re beginner friendly, rewarding, and a wonderful way to enjoy homegrown food with less replanting effort.

1. Lavender

I’ve enjoyed lavender pillow sprays for years, but I only recently began appreciating this soothing plant for its edible flowers. My curiosity was first sparked when I ordered a chai latte at a local café, and the barista garnished it with a dried sprig of lavender. Since then, I’ve loved the distinctive aroma so much that I can’t resist gently squeezing the leaves whenever I water my plants.

If you plan to grow lavender for culinary use, be sure to choose a culinary variety. Even if you don’t use it in food, dried lavender makes wonderfully fragrant sachets for drawers.

Lavender thrives in well-draining soil with 3–4 hours of daily sunlight. Because it can grow a couple of feet tall, it may outgrow a small pot on a windowsill. Mine does best in balcony planters outdoors, but it will adapt well indoors if it gets enough light and drainage.

2. Strawberries

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of visiting a pick-your-own strawberry farm with my family. Freshly picked strawberries always tasted juicier and more flavorful than store-bought ones, and I loved discovering bright red berries hidden beneath the leaves.

Years later, I wasn’t surprised to learn that gardening boosts endorphins. Watching strawberry blossoms transform into sweet fruit is endlessly rewarding.

Strawberries grow beautifully in hanging baskets and patio pots, though they produce more when planted in the ground. If your plants appear to die in winter, don’t worry—they’re simply dormant. With a layer of straw or mulch for insulation, they’ll survive outdoors until spring. Potted plants can even be stored in a dark garage since they don’t need light while dormant.

3. Lettuce

I love fresh salads, but buying them pre-made can be surprisingly expensive. Growing lettuce at home quickly solved that problem—and it’s incredibly easy.

Lettuce can be planted in early spring or autumn, either directly in the ground, in raised beds, or in containers. Keep the soil consistently moist by watering when the top inch feels dry. Mulching with bark-based material helps retain moisture and keep weeds away, while a water-soluble fertilizer encourages lush leaf growth.

Although lettuce grows fastest in full sun, it also tolerates partial shade. To harvest, pick the outer leaves once they’re large enough to eat, leaving the inner leaves to keep growing.

4. Mint

Mint is one of the easiest perennials to grow—and one of the most aggressive. Left unchecked, it can quickly take over a yard. To control it, I keep mine in a pot indoors, though regular trimming works well outdoors. I love using fresh mint to garnish drinks in the summer or to add a refreshing kick to sandwiches.

Mint grows best in well-draining soil and should never be allowed to dry out. It thrives in several hours of sunlight daily, especially with morning sun and afternoon shade. If you’re growing it in a container, choose a nonporous pot so the soil retains moisture better. When watering, aim for the soil rather than the leaves.

5. Asparagus

Asparagus is a long-term investment—once established, it can produce for over a decade. It grows best in well-drained, slightly alkaline soil and does well in a dedicated bed in a sheltered location.

While you can grow asparagus from seed, most gardeners prefer to start with one-year-old roots called crowns. These are often sold in bundles of 25 and can yield pounds of spears annually once mature.

Male asparagus plants are best for eating, as females put energy into producing red berries instead of spears. Plant crowns in early spring, unless you live in a hot climate, where autumn or winter planting is better.

You’ll harvest asparagus in the second spring after planting crowns, or later if starting from seed. The easiest method is to snap the spears at the base—woody ends stay behind while tender parts go straight to your plate.

Pursue Perennial Plants and Flowers

These five perennials are economical, rewarding, and versatile. Whether grown in garden beds, patio pots, or window planters, they offer a steady supply of fresh ingredients year after year. For me, nothing beats stepping outside to gather food straight from the garden instead of making yet another trip to the grocery store.