Chorlton Plant Swap & Gardening Advice
Forest gardening: Growing perennial fruit and veg in layers
Forest gardening is the future!
Forest gardening is a method of growing fruit and veg with a focus on growing perennial edibles (fruit and veg that live for several years) in layers, like the fertile forest edge. You do not need a big space to do this in your own garden.
In Chorlton we are trialling a mini showcase forest garden in Chorlton Community Garden on Manchester Road, M21 9PN
Although the garden is not yet open to the public, volunteers are welcome to get involved. Email Danielle if you're interested.
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Productive space that generates food, plant food, herbal medicine and wildlife habitats
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Variety of plants offers a good diet nutritionally
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Diversity of plants atrracts more beneficial wildlife that also keeps the 'pests' in check
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Low costs after set up as plants are perennial, living several years.
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Less work as new plants don't need sowing each year
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Some plants - like borage, fennel, rocket, nasturtium - self-seed, creating new plants all by themselves
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Healthy soil that doesn't need digging, leading to fewer slugs and weeds
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Undisturbed soil that locks in carbon
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Deep-rooted plants bring up minerals in the soil
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The ground cover layer helps keep the soil moist in dry periods, and warm during the winter
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Opportunities for getting new free plants by swapping cuttings and surplus plants that have spread
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Maximise your space by growing layers to use space effectively.
Get involved with From Roots to Shoots, a forest garden we are helping to create in Chorlton Community Garden.
Links to find out more about forest gardening including suppliers of perennial veg
Trees with edible leaves - some of the most nutrient-packed plants you can eat.
Agro-Forestry Research Trust - Information, courses and supplies for perennial gardening
3 min intro in Martin Crawford’s forest garden in south west England - you don't actually need this much space!
Plants for a Future - excellent searchable database covering huge range of edible perennials
A Food Forest In Your Garden by Alan Carner. Based in Scotland. Book, courses, visits.
Forest garden/edible perennial plant suppliers in UK
The Fruitful Forest Garden Nursery