FRUIT and vegetable gardens don’t need to consist of regimental rows of crops with bare earth in between. Imagine walking through a small woodland glade plucking nuts, berries and herbs – that’s the essence of forest gardening and it sounds pretty heavenly to me.
Forest gardening is a low maintenance, plant-based agroforestry system based on woodland ecosystems, incorporating fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and perennial vegetables.
The concept of this growing method evolved in millennia past alongside the ecosystem, but the idea of using it as a way to cultivate crops was pioneered by Robert Hart in the 1970s, and Martin Crawford since the 1990s. It’s a low -impact, organic method that looks towards the dynamics of a forest to utilise numerous growing ‘zones’. These zones include tall upper tree canopies, understorey groundcover and a collection of areas in between (see my checklist on page 20). Once established, the effort to maintain a forest garden is minimal – very little irrigation, fertilisers or human intervention is needed. And no, you don’t need much space for a forest garden, either.
learning about layers
Plants are carefully selected to coexist in harmony. Nitrogen-fixing trees and shrubs (alder and elaeagnus), plus deep-rooted crops, such as comfrey and horseradish, help to draw nutrients into the leaf litter layer – these are then slowly broken down and utilised by conventional crops such as currants, raspberries and blackberries.
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To dig or not to dig?
Should we be carrying out a full dig on plots now? Bob considers the pros and cons of the 'autumn dig' debate
The box ball blues
As if his beleaguered box hadn't already taken a beating, Toby now has to deal with some hungry box caterpillars
Save your own seeds
Masterclass on: seed saving
Strange sightings
Three unusual insects turn up in Val's garden in one day
A bolt from the blue!
Cornflowers are perfect for garden and vase
Winter moth prevention
Ruth shows you how to avoid maggoty tree fruits
Create a winter container
There are as many options as in summer
Lightweight gardening tools
AS well as being good for our mental health, gardening is also great exercise.
Autumn price round-up
AG finds better bargains in lesser-known brands
Rudbeckias
Rudbeckias are ideal for sunny summer patios and borders, with some able to survive our coldest winters