Creating a forest garden has become more popular in recent years. Vegetable gardens can be created at home, but it seems there is something special about creating a forest garden with plants you have bought yourself or grown in your own back yard. Creating a forest garden with plants you have grown yourself is actually very easy. The hardest part is choosing which plants are the best to use for your particular type of forest garden. Once you’ve made that decision, you will be ready to start creating your forest garden.

When I first heard about Martin Crawford’s book “Secrets of Vegetable Gardening: A Guide to Vegetables Growing Successfully in All Seasons” I was skeptical. Since then though I’ve read all of his books including “The Vegetable Garden: Top secrets from the author of Metamorphosis”, “The Crop Circle: Secrets From the author of Springtime”, “Journey to Alkaline Earth – Return of the Superfoods” and “The New Tree House: Creating a Backyard Eco-System”. All of these have helped me to understand vegetables gardening better. In fact some of my friends asked me to help them replant their gardens for the holidays this year.

There are many ways to go about vegetable gardening that are effective, some easier than others. Although Martin Crawford’s “secrets” may sound like they are too good to be true, they are true. Planting vegetables in the fall is an effective way to start creating a forest garden. It’s a good idea to plan your vegetables garden so that at least one row of annual vegetables grows throughout the fall season.

You can purchase seeds specifically for this time of year from most garden centers. Be sure to check the date on the seed packet to ensure it will germinate before you plant. Most importantly you want to start planting vegetables growing in the late summer or early fall. This is the most optimal growing season as the heat from the sun is longer and the nights are cooler. You’ll need a well drained, rich soil with plenty of light for your vegetables growing needs.

Many gardeners underestimate the importance of soil preparation when designing a forest garden. They tend to think the more water, nutrients, and minerals they apply to the soil, the better they will grow. This is simply not the case. Soil preparation is as important as mulching in most cases.

Soilless materials, like perlite, are recommended but not required. However many feel that worm castings and bone meal work just as well. For planting areas, clay or sand particles make excellent workable materials. For planting holes, you’ll want to make a series of holes that are large enough for the root system to develop in. As plants come up through the holes, they’ll be pulling nutrients from the soil as they go.

As plants develop, new shoots will emerge. These should be encouraged through regular pruning. New growth should be trimmed as often as it becomes difficult to do so. In fact, you may find it beneficial to pull some of the older growth to improve the height of the vegetables. This should be done by either cutting it back to a desired height or, if you have a hoe, digging it up and re-potting it.

One thing many gardeners fail to realize is that the purpose of the forest garden is to return nutrients to the soil that would otherwise be lost through the process of vegetable growing. If we don’t water the vegetables, the soil will become dry and that can cause serious problems. Also, without proper nutrition the roots won’t have any support and the result can be improper growth. With proper planning, planting and caring for your forest garden you’ll be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor for years to come. It’s worth it to take a few moments to make sure the basics are covered before diving in.