The climatic regions in Spain are diverse, and so are it’s food forests!
The climate in Spain varies between tropical savannah, arid, temperate and cold, – and with various degrees of dryness.
Is there a “Spanish Food Forest”?
It is difficult to speak of THE Spanish Food Forest. That’s because the climate in Spain can be so different from northern Spain to southern Spain. It is much better to talk about the different Food Forest (or “edible forests”) that can thrive in Spain. Having said that, the food forests in different regions can have some plants in common (like for example the pine tree species).
Food forest design for Spain
As seen, we have to adapt the food forest design to the region in question. In the more humid, northern regions we need less water management than in the south. Additionally, the vegetation in our forest, including fungi will likely grow faster, and faster growth means a faster time-to-harvest.
In general, the design of a Spanish food forest needs to accommodate fast pioneers for the regions that suffer from a long and dry summer. These pioneers provide shelter for the trees, shrubs and ground cover underneath. This is vital to reduce the watering needed. The more shade and shelter the forest has early on, the mode humidity will be captured and retained on the ground.
Examples of food forests in Spain
List of Spanish Food Forest plants / suitable for the climates in Spain
Fruit Trees: Mulberry, Plum, Kei Apple, White Sapote, Grape, Prickly Pear, Jujube, Fig, Cherries, Peach, Pomegranate, Pear, Nectarine, Carob, Lilly Pilly, Apricot, Olives, Quince, Almond, Gooseberry, Pistachio, Date (Khadrawy or Barhee), Medlar, Feijoa.
Subtropical Fruit Trees suited for a Spanish Food Forest: Ice Cream Bean, Pepino, Loquat, Citrus, Persimmon, White Sapote, Wampee, Guava, Kaffir Lime, Mango, Avocado, Longan, Cherimoya, Passionfruit, Black Sapote, Starfruit, Jaboticaba, Tamarillo,
