Food "Forest" Ideas?

[GlicksChicks]

Today while I was collecting seeds from my Cauliflower seed pods I was thinking about the seed pods opening up on their own when I wasn't around, and that got me thinking even more..

What if I made a garden section where I left the plants, partially, to their own devices. I would still water them, weed, as well as pollinate any flowers that need pollinating (Like squash, canteloupe, etc.), and occasionally harvest some fruits/veggies (it would also function as a chicken garden). But if a fruit/vegetable drops or a seed pod opens then I will let the fruits/seeds stay where they fall and if more plants pop up from that, then they grow.

What would be your thoughts on this idea?
What kind of plants would work well in a project like this?
I am open to any tips and aideas on how to approach this!

 

[GardenBlooms22]

This is an interesting idea.
I am in no way a gardening expert, but I will still share of my thoughts on this.

One thing to consider here is cross pollination. By my understanding, if you plant pure seed, you will grow plants true to variety. However, if the flowers of this true plant get cross pollinated with those of another variety, the seeds in the fruit this plant produces will carry impure seed. Considering this, if you grew heirloom varieties of fruit and vegetables in the first year, you have a likelihood of having many impure fruit and vegetable varieties in the next year. Essentially hybrids. These are usually safe to eat (with the possible exceptions of some squash and I believe cucumbers), but may not very closely resemble the flavor and appearance of the original.

If you let the fruit and seed pods fall from the fruits and vegetables of your garden, then you will likely have many volunteer plants the following year, which sounds like exactly what you want. It is worth noting that these plants may be spread out pretty far from the original, and may appear in unexpected places in the garden.

I don't have a lot of experience in gardening, so unfortunately I can't recommend specific plants that might work better or worse in this aspect. Hopefully some more experienced gardeners reply with knowledgeable answers.

 

[GlicksChicks]

This is an interesting idea.
I am in no way a gardening expert, but I will still share of my thoughts on this.

One thing to consider here is cross pollination. By my understanding, if you plant pure seed, you will grow plants true to variety. However, if the flowers of this true plant get cross pollinated with those of another variety, the seeds in the fruit this plant produces will carry impure seed. Considering this, if you grew heirloom varieties of fruit and vegetables in the first year, you have a likelihood of having many impure fruit and vegetable varieties in the next year. Essentially hybrids. These are usually safe to eat (with the possible exceptions of some squash and I believe cucumbers), but may not very closely resemble the flavor and appearance of the original.

If you let the fruit and seed pods fall from the fruits and vegetables of your garden, then you will likely have many volunteer plants the following year, which sounds like exactly what you want. It is worth noting that these plants may be spread out pretty far from the original, and may appear in unexpected places in the garden.

I don't have a lot of experience in gardening, so unfortunately I can't recommend specific plants that might work better or worse in this aspect. Hopefully some more experienced gardeners reply with knowledgeable answers.

I didn't know that some hybrids are not safe to eat! I will have to look further into that!

I plan on having this garden thing a good distance from my garden that I use for harvesting for our consumption. I know that my only enemy for this would be deer so I would have to find a way to keep deer away from my garden.

My goal is definitely to have the plants produce their own baby plants. I personally do not mind hybrid plants since this part of the garden would be harvested for chickens. I plan on planting things that are safe for chickens, like peppers, watermelon, pumpkin, tomatoes, etc.

So if you know plants that chickens would like, those are suggestions I am open to!

 

[GardenBlooms22]

I didn't know that some hybrids are not safe to eat! I will have to look further into that!

I plan on having this garden thing a good distance from my garden that I use for harvesting for our consumption. I know that my only enemy for this would be deer so I would have to find a way to keep deer away from my garden.

My goal is definitely to have the plants produce their own baby plants. I personally do not mind hybrid plants since this part of the garden would be harvested for chickens. I plan on planting things that are safe for chickens, like peppers, watermelon, pumpkin, tomatoes, etc.

So if you know plants that chickens would like, those are suggestions I am open to!

Yes, toxic cross-pollination is a shocking concept!
Here is an article I found with some good information on "toxic squash syndrome", or dangerous cross-pollinated squash: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/ask-extension/featured/are-volunteer-squash-toxic

I don't think I've heard of anything like this in crops other than squash and cucumbers? The trouble is if a bee should happen to pollinate a wild squash or cucumber, and then come pollinate yours. Chemicals called cucurbitacins are produced in squash and cucumbers. They occur in very small traces normally, and in this amount are not a concern. Wild squash and cucumbers can have very high amounts of cucurbitacins, though, and should a wild cross-breed squash appear in the garden, the fruit can be inedible.

Not all volunteer plants are dangerous though! With proper research on cross pollination, you should still be able to raise perfectly safe volunteer plants in your garden!


I don't raise chickens, so I can't really give advice on what plants chickens like to eat myself. However, my friend @NinjaGamer2022 does raise chickens and should be able to give you some good advice on this.

 

[NinjaGamer2022]

@GlicksChicks Growing food for your chickens is a great idea, they will love it!
I have some suggetions, but first, are you planning to have your chickens IN the garden? Or are you planning to grow them food, but they won't get inside the garden?

 

[GlicksChicks]

Yes, toxic cross-pollination is a shocking concept!
Here is an article I found with some good information on "toxic squash syndrome", or dangerous cross-pollinated squash: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/ask-extension/featured/are-volunteer-squash-toxic

I don't think I've heard of anything like this in crops other than squash and cucumbers? The trouble is if a bee should happen to pollinate a wild squash or cucumber, and then come pollinate yours. Chemicals called cucurbitacins are produced in squash and cucumbers. They occur in very small traces normally, and in this amount are not a concern. Wild squash and cucumbers can have very high amounts of cucurbitacins, though, and should a wild cross-breed squash appear in the garden, the fruit can be inedible.

Not all volunteer plants are dangerous though! With proper research on cross pollination, you should still be able to raise perfectly safe volunteer plants in your garden!


I don't raise chickens, so I can't really give advice on what plants chickens like to eat myself. However, my friend @NinjaGamer2022 does raise chickens and should be able to give you some good advice on this.

I didn't know there were wild squashes and cucumbers! Wow!

Thank you for the link! I will check that out! I don't want my chickens eating anything toxic!!

 

[GardenBlooms22]

I didn't know there were wild squashes and cucumbers! Wow!

Thank you for the link! I will check that out! I don't want my chickens eating anything toxic!!

I'm glad to be of any help!

 

[GardenBlooms22]

It is worth noting that things like toxic cross pollination seem pretty unlikely, but they're still a distinct possibility and it's good to be aware of that so we can take precautions to stay safe.

 

[GlicksChicks]

It is worth noting that things like toxic cross pollination seem pretty unlikely, but they're still a distinct possibility and it's good to be aware of that so we can take precautions to stay safe.

I agree!!

 

[nao57]

Yes, toxic cross-pollination is a shocking concept!
Here is an article I found with some good information on "toxic squash syndrome", or dangerous cross-pollinated squash: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/ask-extension/featured/are-volunteer-squash-toxic

I don't think I've heard of anything like this in crops other than squash and cucumbers? The trouble is if a bee should happen to pollinate a wild squash or cucumber, and then come pollinate yours. Chemicals called cucurbitacins are produced in squash and cucumbers. They occur in very small traces normally, and in this amount are not a concern. Wild squash and cucumbers can have very high amounts of cucurbitacins, though, and should a wild cross-breed squash appear in the garden, the fruit can be inedible.

Not all volunteer plants are dangerous though! With proper research on cross pollination, you should still be able to raise perfectly safe volunteer plants in your garden!


I don't raise chickens, so I can't really give advice on what plants chickens like to eat myself. However, my friend @NinjaGamer2022 does raise chickens and should be able to give you some good advice on this.

I agree. And squash are notorious for this. There's also weird cross pollinations that can happen with squash and pumpkins. (And possibly Zuchini?). I've seen cross pollination between melons also but its more rare and doesn't happen very much; I had a melon like this last year but the melons weren't bad tasting from it.

Another issue is crossing determinates and indeterminates. A lot of people like to 'Try stuff' where they see a new variety and put it in the garden without thinking about if its determinate or indeterminate and what the rest of their garden is. (I'm not sure if interdeterminate or determinate is more dominant though? Or will some of the 'child' plants be some of both, or either or?)

Either way, those are things to think about. But some experimenting is good. I think you learn more when you experiment, provided you follow up and think about the experiments you did.