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4For the knee-high level , plant perennial vegetables , leafy greens , and herbs . We get good production from parsnips , parsley , French sorrel , marjoram , golden oregano , collards , sages , winter squash , and more . Kales and chard do fine with three or four hours a day of sunshine . On the east side , go for celery , carrots , and bush beans that prefer morning sun and afternoon shade .
5Ground covers grow low and spread horizontally . My favorite is a hardy violet , with flowers and leaves rich in vitamin A and great in salads . Tough and tasty mints are so invasive they ’ re best planted in pots . The borage family has edible blossoms and the leaves are a good spinach substitute when steamed , but can be toxic in large quantities . Borages thrive in shade but want to take over . To slow that , I yank off leaves to use as mulch , rich in minerals brought up by long taproots . Fruit trees especially appreciate a nitrogen-fixing ground cover . All the bean family of legumes , alfalfa , clover , and such have bacterial nodules on their roots where atmospheric nitrogen is converted to the nitrogen molecules plants need to produce proteins that build their bodies .
6Tubers and underground edible roots come next . Bulbs — alliums like leeks , chives , shallots , and others in the onion clan , plus edible day lilies and hardy daffodil and iris corms — provide ground cover , forage and flowers . For the bees , in sunnier areas add bergamot , oregano , sage , marjoram , thyme , rosemary and other flowering herbs . The big job of the bulbs is to absorb excess nitrogen in spring , when it harms trees .
7Climbing vines can hide ugly spots , give needed shade , and provide food while conserving space . Edible leaves are common in vines that like shade . Hops and grapes need some sun . Climbing beans and peas , and outdoor cucumbers do well with morning shade and afternoon sun from the west . For 20 great climbing options , see bcliving . ca / 20-climbing-edibles .
Some shady-land growers swear by reflective mulches to brighten things up under trees . Most agree that trimming tree branches up fairly high up works to let in more light . The real challenge is to choose plants that like the conditions you can offer and that nurture complete and balanced ecosystems . The long-term goal is to get closer to the infinite complexity of nature ’ s own system for recycling all nutrients , perfectly attuned to the seasons , within a community of strong protective interdependencies that block invaders . Add some wood ash if soil is too acidic . Put all food scraps , all you prune from plants , and ground litter back into the soil . When trees disrobe in fall , gather every leaf and mulch deeply . Sure , it takes time . And you can start today with one rhubarb root-ball or a single berry plant under a tree , and grow your ambitions . Books on soil science set you up for success . My favorite dirt-lover ’ s primer is Teaming with Microbes by Jeff Lowenfels . Soil Science Simplified by Neal S . Eash is another good one . On creating a forest garden , try Robert Hart as mentioned , Dave Jacke , Martin Crawford , or Toby Hemenway . For perennial vegetables , the guru is Eric Toensmeier . While focusing on marvelous cultivars , don ’ t ignore the hardy survivalists most call weeds . Loving your weeds is a sure strategy for upping more than food production . Strongly flavored dandelion greens and a long list of regional edible weeds deliver far higher vitamin and mineral levels than their mild , tender garden descendants that have been bred for monoculture farming , tender tongues , and easy transport .
” GROWING FINE fruits and nuts can be as easy as choosing good stock , planting at a time and place that will meet tree needs , and keeping an eye on saplings for a few years .“
80 grow cycle