Permaculture fruit growing in Hungary

The mixed orchard category was finally developed at the end of 2024. Although it was previously possible to register such areas on the single application form, there was no subsidy and no precise rules for planting. It was included in the eco-support scheme launched at the end of 2024, it was taken out of the agri-environmental payments (AEM) and we do not know whether the national additional payment will be available only for monoculture plantations or also for permaculture fruit production.

From now on, such a plantation must contain at least 240 plants. In addition, it must consist of two or more plant species, where the proportion of any one species cannot exceed 95%.

An important feature of a permaculture system is that it is diverse, i.e. it consists of many different species -
The so-called FOODFOREST concept is also based on this

Current installation guidelines:

• Within the eco-framework, only the plants on the list can be planted.
• The species composition of a plantation cannot be monoculture; for example, if the proportion of a species reaches 95%, it is considered monoculture.
• Smaller trees or shrubs are recommended between larger trees to make efficient use of space.
• The lawn level should be planted with perennial and annual plants, and their natural regeneration should be encouraged by grazing or mowing.

Soil protection: combining crops and the role of nitrogen fixation

Root vegetables are difficult to grow due to soil disturbance between trees, so it is not recommended for large-scale use. However, growing climbing plants (e.g. grapes, kiwis) on large trees is a good solution.

Nitrogen-fixing crops play a key role in permaculture systems as they make the plantation more sustainable. Of the fruit species that can be planted, only sea buckthorn can do this. Grassland plants are not fixed, but can be fixed by perennial or annual butterflies such as alfalfa, vetch, testes.

Although not yet an approved suggestion, it is recommended to plant nitrogen-fixing or other plants that provide ecological services, such as acacia, Japanese acacia or gledichia, between every 1-2 fruit trees. Evergreens provide habitat for animals and can therefore be a useful part of the whole system.

A variety of fruit trees when establishing permaculture it is worth taking care that the trees are not placed next to their own species. That way, even if one does become infected, it is much less likely to pass the problem on to another of its kind.

Legal barriers: species combinations and proofs of origin

Although foreign examples (e.g. pear-apple-acacacia combinations) have already proven their success, the planting of forest species in commercial orchards is currently prohibited in Hungary. Regulatory changes, such as combining agroforestry systems with plantations in this or similar ways, could achieve long-term results in this area.

In addition, under the current rules, only cuttings and slips from fruit tree nurseries may be planted in the assisted areas. Although this system works well in principle, it would be appropriate to adapt the rules for several areas and for the home nursery in order to develop permaculture, adaptable orchard systems.

Home nursery: rules for planting and grafting

The home nursery gives producers the opportunity to produce fruit plants for their own use, but they are not allowed to sell them commercially. However, under the current rules:

• Only trees that have already been inoculated can be planted.
• Seed sowing and subsequent grafting is not allowed, as the asexual part of the plant is not available at the time of sowing and the plant cannot be varietally identical.

Therefore, the rootstock plant must be harvested and transplanted before it is moved to its final location. It will then be moved to the new location with a significantly smaller root mass, but the main root is likely to be damaged in the process. An important regulation is that the seeds to be sown must come from productive, tested trees and purchased seeds cannot be used as they may come from different plants. This in turn significantly limits the spread of new species.

Some trees - such as almonds or peaches (subgenus amygdalus) - do not need grafting if they are sown because you get trees with the same characteristics as the parent plant, while for other trees - such as apples or walnuts - you get trees that are very different from the parent plant, so this is not an option. In some cases, however, differences from the parent plant can even have beneficial properties. This gives the opportunity for observation-based plant breeding, for selection in situ, thus contributing to the development of new varieties.

What changes are we proposing?

• Integration of forest species: Authorisation for the use of non-fruit forest reproductive material in commodity plantations.
• Home nursery reformA: Subsequent grafting of seed sown in situ should be allowed, especially for species where the identity of the seed sown is high.

Promoting permaculture systems

These changes would contribute to the expansion of permaculture systems in Hungary. The current regulation is an obstacle to the development of larger-scale commodity plantations that would make agriculture more sustainable and increase biodiversity.