Creating a food forest in your backyard is a great way to grow sustainable abundant food that continues to yield year over year. It is important to choose the right mix of perennial plants when planting your food forest.
There are over 150+ varieties of perennial edible plants you can grow in Minnesota, however we have found these 10 plants to be the most popular. You may be surprised some of these plants can grow in the colder Minnesota Climates.
#10 – Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a Minnesota staple. The tangy stalks make it great in pies, jams, sauces. My favorite way to enjoy rhubarb is just dipping raw stalk in sugar for a sweet tart crunch. This deep-rooted plant grows like a weed and thrives in Minnesota soils. They create great biomass in the garden, and the leaves can be used for compost. No food forest is complete without Rhubarb plants in your fruit tree guilds.
#9 – Honeyberries
Honeyberries are an excellent addition to Minnesota Food Forests because they are cold-hardy and can thrive in harsh winters. Unlike blueberries, they require less soil acidity, so they are much easier to grow. Honeyberries provide a sweet, nutrient-dense treat that can be harvested much sooner than blueberries and are less susceptible to common pests and diseases. They have a compact shrub form, so they are a great addition to any fruit tree guild.
#8 – Walking Onions
Walking onions are an excellent addition to any food forests because they are a self-propagating vegetable plant. They have a unique ability to produce “topsets” or small bulbs at the top of every stock. Once the bulb forms, they bend over and replant into the ground. This cycle enables walking onions to mature and harvest exponentially with minimal effort. The bulbs can tend to be quite tough, so it’s best to enjoy them like green onions. Harvest them when they are young and fresh, and put them on salads, in stir-fries, or on sandwiches.
#7– Gooseberries & Currants
Gooseberries and currants are more obscure than raspberries or blueberries, but they offer a unique flavor that holds its own. Gooseberries were much more popular in the 19th century. They were commonly grown in home gardens and used in pies, jams and sauces. However, in early 20th century white pine blister rust disease affected pine trees, and this was linked to gooseberries and currants. As a result, gooseberry and currant production came to an abrupt halt. With the growing popularity of foodscaping and food forests, there is a resurgence in demand for these unique berries.
#6 – Asparagus
Asparagus is the most underrated perennial vegetable you can grow in your food forest. Planted bare root, it will take 2 to 3 years before it is ready to harvest. However, once it’s established, it takes minimal care and will produce year-over-year for up to 20 years. The most popular types of asparagus include Jersey Knight, Jersey Giant, Mary Washington and Purple Passion. It grows beautifully next to strawberries or grapes and is at its best when grilled with lemon and served with salmon.
#5 – Cherries
There is nothing more midwestern than cherry pie with vanilla ice cream. Unlike Washington, Minnesota cherries tend to be more tart. There are a few “sweet cherries” but even these are much tarter than the Washington varieties. Regardless, this does not deter people from planting this amazing perennial tree in their food forests. Cherries not only boast stunning spring blooms, but they also attract unique birds and are the most popular fruit for baking.
#4 – Blueberries
Blueberries are one of the more challenging berries to grow, but are worth the effort just for their taste and antioxidant benefits. Blueberries require a lower PH level in the soil. Wild blueberries grow great in old growth coniferous forests because decomposed pine needs and trees have lowered the soil PH level. It is easy to acidify soil in your food forest by using sulfur acidifier. If you have an area with a lot of pine needle groundcover, it would be an optimal place to plant your blueberries.
#3 – Raspberries
If you can grow weeds, you can grow raspberries. Raspberries are the easiest of all berries to grow. They are easy to harvest and eat on the spot. Unlike other berry plants, they have an exponential growth rate. Because they spread vegetatively through runners and rhizomes, raspberries grow like weeds. If left alone, raspberries would take over the world! They are not the prettiest plant, but they do a great job creating biomass on fences or forest edges.
#2 – Peaches
Most Minnesotans have no idea that you can grow peaches in our state, and they will not be disappointed. Both Contender and Reliance peaches are cold hardy peaches that can do well in our climate and are ready to harvest by mid-August. Because they are fuzzy outside, they tend to repel bugs naturally unlike other stone fruits. Most important, a fresh Minnesota peach will have way more flavor than store bought Georgia peaches.
#1 – Apples
It’s no secret that the Minnesota Honeycrisp Apple reigns as the King of Apples. Minnesota has a long-standing tradition of breeding some of the best apples on the planet. Our state has over 400 apple orchards with over 1.5 million citizens visiting every year. Because Apples are the easiest of all the fruit trees to grow, it is no surprise that they are the most popular perennial to include in a food forest.
Conclusion:
Building a food forest in Minnesota is a great way to grow food sustainably, regenerate your soil, and repair the ecosystem. By integrating in a variety of these edible perennials, you will be able to harvest thousands of pounds of food each year while boosting your property’s biodiversity. These plants not only provide a great food source, but will also attract beneficial insects like birds, bees, and butterflies.
Are you ready to start your food forest? Let us help you design and install a sustainable, food-producing landscape that will thrive for many years to come! Contact us to get started!
