If you have a small yard and want to grow your own food, you may need to plant your crops close together. While this can work for many plants, it’s important to avoid planting root vegetables too close to fruit trees. Roots of root crops can damage young tree roots when harvested, affecting the health of the tree. Fruit trees have fragile roots, especially when young, so it’s crucial to keep root crops at a safe distance to prevent any damage.
Growing root crops without disturbing your fruit trees
Fruit trees have shallow roots and need fertile soil to thrive. Traditional advice suggests keeping the area around fruit trees clear of any plants to avoid competition for nutrients. Even when creating plant guilds around fruit trees, root crops should be avoided. It’s recommended to plant root crops at a distance from fruit trees based on the tree’s age and canopy size. For younger trees, keep large root crops like potatoes far away and smaller plants like carrots at least 5 feet from the base of the tree.
If you have limited space but still want fruit trees and root crops, consider growing root crops in containers like cardboard boxes or laundry baskets. This way, you can easily harvest without disturbing the roots of other plants.
