Creating Your Own Food Forest: A Guide to Growing 10 Amazing Fruit Trees
Imagine stepping into your backyard and being surrounded by a lush, self-sustaining ecosystem teeming with fruit trees. A food forest offers not only an abundance of fresh, organic produce but also contributes to local biodiversity and sustainability. In this guide, we'll explore how to start your own food forest with ten fantastic fruit trees that all thrive in Abruzzo: Persimmon, Fig, Peach, Pomegranate, Pear, Cherry, Nespole (Loquat), Quince, Apple, and Apricot.
A food forest mimics a natural forest ecosystem but is designed primarily with edible plants. It maximises space and resources, reduces the need for artificial inputs like fertilisers and pesticides, and creates a resilient and productive garden. By planting a diverse range of fruit trees, you can enjoy a variety of fruits while also supporting wildlife and improving soil health. As the trees grow they offer shade and protection from the brutal Abruzzese sun. These areas with soft dappled shade can then be used as growing zones for your vegetable patch or raised beds with a lower water requirement than those placed in full sun.
Persimmon
The Kaki or Persimmon is a fruit shrub native to Japan and belonging to the Ebenaceae family. It is a deciduous tree with medium-high vigor, excellent productivity capable of reaching up to 18 meters in height; it has a smooth and variously branched trunk of light brown color with large leaves and elliptical shape whose color is bright green that in autumn takes on orange hues.
Flowering occurs in late spring when very small cream-colored flowers bloom in groups of 3, followed by the fruits. Popularly called Persimmon, the Vanilla Persimmon is harvested in October: the fruit has a spherical shape and flattened at the poles, medium-sized with a bronze-colored peel, while the pulp is also orange in color with a very sweet flavor; it is mostly consumed fresh or used to prepare jams.
It is a rustic shrub that tolerates low temperatures well, but it must be protected from the winds; it prefers positioning in sunny places with good adaptability to partial shade positions. It requires fertile, loose and well-drained soil to be irrigated more during the summer and the fruiting period, avoiding any form of stagnation.
Fig
The Fig is a perennial fruit shrub of Asian origin but now present throughout the world, belonging to the Moraceae family. It is a deciduous tree with high vigor, excellent and constant productivity, very long-lived and up to 10 meters tall; it has a short and variously branched trunk of light gray color, the leaves are large and oblong in shape and formed by 3 or 5 lobes whose color is dark green on the upper side and lighter on the lower side.
The Fico Di Terlizzi is a twice-bearing variety, ripening at the end of June and at the end of August: it is spherical in shape and elongated towards the upper end, large in size with a black-green skin, while the pulp is fleshy, light pink in colour and very sweet in flavour; ideal for consumption both fresh and dried but also for the preparation of jams.
It is a rustic shrub resistant to low temperatures, although spring frosts could damage the buds and even the trunk; it prefers positioning in sunny places, but tolerates exposure in partial shade. A good quality and well-drained universal soil with infrequent irrigation is recommended since it tolerates short periods of drought.
Ripening: Third week of June – Third week of August
Self-fertile.
Peach
The Peach is a fruit-bearing shrub of Chinese origin but naturalized in Europe and belonging to the Rosaceae family. It is a deciduous tree with high vigor, excellent productivity and medium size, whose maximum height can be about 8 meters; it has a rough trunk with various branches of brown color with pointed and opposite lanceolate leaves, of dark green color.
It blooms at the end of winter and beginning of spring producing flowers made up of 5 pink petals followed by the fruits. The Flat Peach or Platicarpa also called Platycarpa or Tabacchiera ripens in the month of July: the fruit is round and flattened almost flat, medium sized with red skin on a yellow background, while the pulp is white, firm and with a sweet flavor; it can be eaten fresh or used to prepare juices or desserts.
The Peach prefers exposure in sunny places and sheltered from the winds, but it also adapts to partial shade positions; although it is a rustic shrub it fears spring frosts. It does not require particular soil for a luxuriant growth as long as it is well drained, to be watered regularly especially in summer avoiding the formation of water stagnation.
Ripening: Second ten days of July.
Self-fertile.
Pomegranate
The Pomegranate is a fruit-bearing shrub native to Asia but now naturalised throughout the Mediterranean, belonging to the Ebenaceae family. It is a deciduous tree with high vigour, excellent productivity and medium size that can reach 4-5 meters in height; it has a smooth and variously branched trunk of light brown colour with lanceolate leaves whose colour is dark green:
compared to other deciduous trees, it tends to lose its leaves late in late autumn or early winter. It blooms in late spring, producing large, bright red bell-shaped flowers that are also very ornamental, followed by fruit. The Horse Tooth Pomegranate ripens between September and October: the fruit is large and spherical in shape, with a dark red skin all over the surface, full of very sweet and juicy garnet-red grains;
to be consumed both fresh and for the preparation of juices. It is a rustic shrub that tolerates low temperatures well, prefers exposure in places of full sun also adapting to positioning in areas of partial shade. We recommend good quality and well-drained universal soil with infrequent irrigation since the plant tolerates short periods of drought, always avoiding water stagnation.
Ripening: Third week of September - First week of October.
Self-fertile.
Pear
The pear tree is a fruit-bearing shrub of Mediterranean origin and belonging to the Rosaceae family. It is a deciduous tree with medium vigor and high productivity that can reach considerable dimensions, even 17 meters in height over the years; it has a trunk with various branches of brown color with lanceolate or oval leaves of glossy green color.
Flowering occurs in spring when flowers formed by 5 petals bloom, varying in color from white to yellow to pink, followed by fruits. The Santa Maria Pear ripens in the first ten days of August: the fruit is medium-sized, round in shape at the bottom and elongated towards the top with a yellow-green skin with reddish shades if exposed to the sun, while the pulp is firm, sweet and juicy: to be consumed fresh but is also well suited to cooking.
The Pear prefers exposure in sunny places and sheltered from the winds, but it also adapts to partial shade positions; a very rustic shrub that does not fear very low temperatures. It requires soil rich in organic substances and well drained with abundant watering especially in the summer period.
Ripening: First ten days of August.
Necessary pollinator: Abate Fetel - Coscia - Decana del Comizio - Passacrassana - William.
Cherry
The Cherry or Prunus Avium is a fruit-bearing shrub of European and Asian origin and belonging to the Rosaceae family. It is a deciduous tree with medium-high vigour, excellent productivity and considerable size that can reach up to 30 metres in height; it has a straight and smooth trunk with various branches of dark brown colour with lanceolate leaves, of a bright green shade that becomes reddish in autumn.
Flowering occurs at the beginning of spring, producing pendulous flowers made up of 5 white petals and golden stamens, followed by the fruits. The Ferrovia Cherry ripens in June: the fruit has a large spherical shape with an intense red skin, while the pulp is bright red, with an excellent flavour and rich in beneficial properties; to be consumed both fresh and for the preparation of jams.
It is a very rustic shrub that tolerates low temperatures well and can be planted both in the garden and in a container; it prefers positioning in sunny places, but adapts to areas of predominantly partial shade. For luxuriant growth, a good quality, well-drained universal soil is recommended, as well as not too frequent irrigation to be carried out when the substrate is dry, avoiding water stagnation.
Ripening: Second ten days of June.
Pollinator. Necessary pollinator: Giorgia - Sunburst.
Nespole (Loquat)
The Japanese Medlar or Eriobotrya Japonica is a fruit tree native to Eastern China and belonging to the Rosaceae family. It is an evergreen tree that in nature can reach 10 meters in height, but if cultivated it remains modest in size;
the straight trunk is dark grey in colour, variously branched with an expanded crown, while the leaves are large, lanceolate in shape and leathery in consistency, taking on dark green tones on the upper side and pale green on the lower side, covered with hair. Flowering occurs late, that is, in full autumn with the production of star-shaped flowers formed by white petals and gathered in bunches.
Its fruits, which ripen at the end of spring, appear as round and slightly elongated berries of medium size with a skin that varies in colour from pale yellow to bright orange while the pulp is orange in tone with a sweet flavour and inside there are large seeds: the fruit is mainly consumed fresh by removing the thin skin and seeds.
It is a simple plant to grow since it does not require special attention in addition to being resistant to low temperatures, ideal to grow both in the garden and in a container; it needs to be planted in places exposed to direct sunlight and sheltered from the wind, but it also adapts to partial shade.
We recommend a universal soil and even better one rich in organic substances with excellent drainage, while irrigation must be constant especially in the warmer months and always carried out when the substrate is dry.
Ripening: Third week of May - First week of June.
Quince
The Quince or Cydonia Oblonga is a fruit-bearing shrub of very ancient origin and belonging to the Rosaceae family. It is a deciduous tree with vigour and medium size capable of developing up to 8 meters in height; it has a twisted and variously branched trunk of grey-brown colour with oval or slightly lanceolate leaves of dark green colour.
Flowering occurs in late spring, producing very large and ornamental white-pink flowers, followed by fruits. The Quince ripens in September: the fruit has a spherical shape slightly flattened at the poles, similar to the Apple from which it derives its name, and is large with a yellow skin, while the pulp is white, hard and sour: not much consumed fresh but widely used for the preparation of jams, spirits and liqueurs.
It is a shrub that does not fear low temperatures but must be protected from spring frosts ideal for growing both in the open ground and in containers; it prefers positioning in sunny places with good adaptability in partial shade. Fertile soil is recommended, rich in organic substances and well drained to be watered constantly especially in summer and then reduced in winter, paying attention to water stagnation.
Ripening: First ten days of September.
Self-fertile.
Apple
The Apple tree is a fruit-bearing shrub of Asian origin but naturalised in various countries and belonging to the Rosaceae family. It is a deciduous tree with high vigour, excellent productivity and medium size, capable of reaching up to 10 meters; it has a trunk with various branches of dark brown and smooth colour with oval-shaped and opposite leaves, dark green with serrated edges.
Flowering occurs in spring, producing 5-petalled white-pink flowers gathered in inflorescences followed by the fruits. The Granny Smith Apple ripens at the end of October: the fruit has a spherical shape slightly flattened at the poles, medium-large in size, with a light green skin, while the pulp is white, crunchy with a pleasant flavour despite the low amount of sugar; to be consumed both fresh and for the preparation of desserts.
It is a very rustic shrub that does not fear low temperatures but it must be protected from spring frosts that could compromise flowering; it prefers positioning in sunny places, but it also adapts to exposure in partial shade areas. We recommend soil rich in organic substances and well drained with frequent irrigation especially in summer, paying attention to water stagnation.
Ripening: Third week of October.
Self-fertile - Pollinator.
Apricot
The Apricot or Prunus Armeniaca is a fruit shrub of Chinese origin but naturalised in Italy and belonging to the Rosaceae family. It is a deciduous tree with high vigour, excellent productivity and medium size, capable of reaching a maximum height of 7-8 meters; it has a trunk with various branches of brown colour with heart-shaped and opposite leaves, of dark green shades with serrated edges.
Flowering occurs in late winter and early spring, producing white-pink chalice-shaped flowers followed by fruits. The Albicocca Cafona ripens in the first ten days of July: the fruit is oval-shaped, small-medium sized, with yellow skin with light red hues, while the pulp is light orange, firm and very sweet: it can be eaten fresh or used to make desserts, jams or juices.
It is a very rustic shrub that does not fear low temperatures but needs to be protected from spring frosts; it prefers planting in sunny places, also adapting to positions in partial shade. It grows luxuriantly in any good quality soil as long as it is well drained, while irrigation must be regular and carried out more frequently in summer, avoiding the formation of water stagnation.
Ripening: First ten days of July.
Self-fertile.
Designing Your Food Forest
When designing your food forest, consider the following principles:
Layering: Arrange your trees in layers, from tallest to shortest, to maximize light and space. Tall trees like Persimmon and Pomegranate can form the canopy, while smaller trees like Fig and Apricot can fill in the understory.
Companion Planting: Plant complementary species together to enhance growth and deter pests. For example, plant herbs and flowers like comfrey, mint, and marigolds around your trees to attract beneficial insects and improve soil health.
Diversity: Include a variety of species to ensure year-round production and resilience against pests and diseases. Each of the ten fruit trees listed will produce fruit at different times, providing a continuous harvest.
Soil Health: Focus on building healthy, nutrient-rich soil by adding compost, mulch, and organic matter. This will support tree growth and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers.
Water Management: Implement efficient watering systems like drip irrigation or rainwater harvesting to conserve water and ensure your trees get the moisture they need.
Planting and Maintenance Tips
Planting: Choose the right time for planting, typically in early spring or fall. Dig a hole twice as wide and as deep as the root ball, place the tree, and backfill with soil mixed with compost.
Watering: Water newly planted trees regularly until established. Mature trees will need less frequent watering, but ensure they receive enough during dry periods.
Pruning: Prune trees annually to maintain shape, remove dead or diseased wood, and improve air circulation. This will enhance fruit production and tree health.
Mulching: Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of trees to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and improve soil fertility.
Pest and Disease Management: Monitor your trees for signs of pests and diseases. Use organic methods like neem oil, beneficial insects, and homemade sprays to manage issues without chemicals.
Conclusion
Starting a food forest with these ten fruit trees is a rewarding journey towards sustainability, health, and self-sufficiency. With careful planning and maintenance, you'll enjoy a bountiful harvest and contribute to a thriving ecosystem in your own backyard. Happy planting!
