Quick Answer
In a food forest, the understory layer consists of plants that thrive in partial shade, often with a dense canopy above. Suitable plants include berries, shrubs, and perennials with deep taproots or adaptations for low light conditions. These plants help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Selecting Understory Plants for a Food Forest
Choosing Berries and Shrubs
For a productive understory layer, select berry species like blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries that tolerate shade. These plants will not only provide delicious fruit but also create a lush, dense understory. Consider planting a mix of early, mid-season, and late-bearing varieties to ensure a consistent harvest throughout the growing season. Space them about 3-4 feet apart to allow for air circulation and sunlight penetration.
Incorporating Perennial Polyculture
Design your understory layer to include a mix of perennials with complementary growth habits and nutrient requirements. For example, pair comfrey with strawberries to create a mutually beneficial relationship. Comfrey’s deep taproot will help to draw up nutrients from deeper soil layers, while its broad leaves will act as a living mulch, retaining moisture and suppressing weeds. Plant perennials about 12-18 inches apart to allow for easy harvesting and maintenance.
Creating Guilds in the Understory
Consider grouping plants into guilds, with each member playing a unique role in the ecosystem. A guild might consist of a nitrogen-fixing legume like beans or peas, a fruiting shrub like a currant, and a groundcover like creeping thyme. By planting these species together, you can create a diverse, thriving understory layer that requires minimal external inputs. To create a guild, plant the legume on the north side of the fruiting shrub, and place the groundcover around the base of the shrub, about 6-8 inches away from the plant’s drip line.
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