i noticed a hughe difference in tree/plant strength/health deoending on nursery. some really sell sad plants. We only plant a couple of nursery bought trees which will be used to take grafts from, and these are being spoiled or they die.

From seed is key is our experience.
So the other trees and perennials are all planted from seed, and after 2 summers we see what survived and keep planting.

depending on your region carrasca may be quercus ilex, which is one of my favorite oaks, they are incredibly strong. But here an animal is specialized at finding the acorns and stealing them. Kermes oak quercus coccifera is also a nice oak, similar to ilex but stays mostly bushy, have seen some trees of 10m/32ft. Heavy fruiters sometimes 2/year
 

Am trying to establish some pinus piñonero, the one with the big pine nuts. The regional pine tree is pinus halapensis which is one of the more flammable species so of course the gov planted then out... go figure. I want them all gone as they are sort of a non-agricultural mono-crop. Also heavily infested with mistletoe and many dying or dead adding to the fuel. Just as their needles do. 

Almond and apricot are incredibly good at surviving as seedling. An almond will be makijg a tap root of around 30cm/11" deep for a month before showing its first leaf, incredible!

Pommegranate (had no luck yet), quince, some date palms, pear, carob, nettle tree, mulberry, are all on the list and do work once they sprout from seed.

again, nursery trees are our "houseplants" planted in zone1 and get taken care of. Though had some luck with our own nursery seedlings but the time and effort and water is just too much. 


Also there is a permies.com thread about reforestation on large scale. I have seen this work in abandoned almond fields and gives hope. Thats why I seed many almonds. They all help breaking through the heavy concreted dirt and add biomass. https://permies.com/t/14353/Reforestation-Growing-trees-arid-barren

Besides this: broadbean survives, alfalfa survives and is a perennial.

#permaculture #forest #reforestation #farming #regeneration