Growing Guides
Welcome to the Food Forest Nursery growing guides — our complete, free library for growing edible landscapes. Whether you’re planting your first fruit tree or designing a multi-layer food forest on acreage, these guides give you the specifics that decide success: USDA zones, chill hours, pollination partners, pruning, pests, and harvest timing. Use the categories below to find growing advice, then check the current plant listing and shipping information when planning an order.
Browse by Category
Fruit Trees (14 guides)
Fruit trees are the backbone of a food forest. See all fruit trees →
Berries (9 guides)
Many berry plants offer relatively early harvests. See all berries →
Blackberry
Blueberry
Cranberry
Currant & Gooseberry
Elderberry
Goji Berry
Honeyberry (Haskap)
Raspberry
ServiceberryNut Trees (10 guides)
Nut trees are the long game of a food forest. See all nut trees →
Fruiting Vines (3 guides)
Fruiting vines make use of vertical growing space. See all fruiting vines →
General Guides (15 guides)
General guidance on planting, pruning, feeding, and propagation, with methods adapted to the species and planting stock. See all general guides →
What the Growing Guides Cover
The library covers these topics, with the details and format varying by plant and article:
- Variety selection — the best cultivars for flavor, hardiness, and disease resistance, by region.
- Site and planting — sun, soil, spacing, and how to plant bare-root stock.
- Pollination — whether the plant is self-fruitful or needs a partner, and which partners work.
- Pruning and care — season-by-season maintenance to keep plants productive.
- Pests and diseases — organic-first prevention and treatment.
- Harvest and storage — how to tell when fruit is ripe and how to keep it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Food Forest Nursery ship?
We ship bare-root trees, shrubs, and vines across the continental United States. Shipping dates vary by destination and are shown using your ZIP code at checkout. Check the current shipping policy for the schedule; weather and order volume can affect timing.
When is the best time to plant bare-root stock?
Plant dormant bare-root stock when the soil is workable and suitable for the species, avoiding frozen or waterlogged ground. Late winter or early spring works well in many regions, while fall can suit some plants and climates. Check our destination-based shipping schedule and be ready to protect roots and plant promptly on arrival.
What is a food forest?
A food forest combines food-producing plants in layers such as canopy trees, smaller trees, shrubs, vines, and groundcovers. Perennials reduce the need for annual replanting, but establishment, pruning, weeding, pest management, and harvesting still require care.
Do I need more than one plant to get fruit?
Often, yes. Many fruit and nut plants need a second compatible variety for pollination. Each guide tells you whether a plant is self-fruitful or needs a partner.
For current delivery timing, see our shipping policy. Ready to plant? Browse our bare-root trees and shrubs, or use the Plant Finder to match plants to your zone and space.