Does the SFG concept work for perennials?

LynnF 6/23/2017, 10:26 am

Hi! I haven't tried SFG yet, and before I invest in raised beds, I'd like to know if this method is suitable not just for annual vegetables, but for perennial flowers. I'm worried that the mere 6 inches of raised soil might allow the roots to freeze over winter. I'm Zone 6, NJ.

Has anyone raised perennials in northern NJ with the SFG method?

CapeCoddess 6/23/2017, 10:43 am

$glad you\'re here$ Lynn!

Good question. I winter over kale, collards, garlic and sometimes by mistake, potatoes and onions. No perennial flowers. I think Trolleydriver in Canada might have bulbs in his SFG. Maybe other things, too. You could PM him if he doesn't chime in soon.
CC

Robbomb116 6/23/2017, 10:57 am

People do strawberries, asparagus, and some perennial herbs in their SFG beds. Not sure about perennial flowers.

**sanderson** 6/23/2017, 12:19 pm

Lynn, Welcome to the Forum from California! $glad you\'re here$ I hope someone from your zone will be able to answer your question.

**trolleydriver** 6/23/2017, 1:01 pm

CapeCoddess wrote: $glad you\'re here$ Lynn!

Good question. I winter over kale, collards, garlic and sometimes by mistake, potatoes and onions. No perennial flowers. I think Trolleydriver in Canada might have bulbs in his SFG. Maybe other things, too. You could PM him if he doesn't chime in soon.
CC

A warm welcome Lynn from Ottawa, Canada. One Fall I planted tulip bulbs in my SFG and they survived the winter and produced a beautiful display in the Spring. I've had chives and we also have strawberries that overwinter in the SFG. I plant garlic cloves in October and the garlic is doing fantastic this year. I cheat a little by using 2x8 boards for my raised beds which means I get a little more (not much) depth for the Mel's Mix. BTW we get brutally cold winters and we have to go down 4 feet with fence posts and foundations to avoid frost problems in the regular soil.

LynnF 6/23/2017, 1:05 pm

Thanks, everybody, for your answers so far! It sounds promising.

**AtlantaMarie** 6/24/2017, 6:25 am

Hi LynnF. Let me give you a WARM welcome from Atlanta, GA. :-) Glad you found us.

And I'm glad I don't have to deal with the cold like y'all do!!

Judy McConnell 6/26/2017, 8:30 am

I've had perennials in my raised beds for years - just because I like the look of flowering plants here and there throughout the garden.

One bed (4x4') has spring bulbs in it, after the tulips and daffodils die down, I plant bush beans in the same bed. Another bed has wild plants (daylilies, iris, yarrow, etc) that I brought from my farm (a touch of home) - if there is space in this bed, it might see a tomato plant jammed into a corner. A third bed has butterfly weed, etc. in it.

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Does the SFG concept work for perennials?

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