I would like to grow veg and fruit in a awkward area of the garden. The day length is short due to trees.
By mid summer its in deep shade by 3pm. Any suggustions as what I could grow?
Hi Lillian
Does your garden get any sun at all? If it is in full sun for at least part of the day then there are lots of things you could grow. Last year we successfully grew french and runner beans in an area that doesn't get any sun after 3pm, along with spuds, leeks, mangetout and sugarsnap peas, courgettes, strawberries (although they were in a spot where the sun disappeared at around 4.30 in mid summer). Things that didn't do so well were the squahes, sweetcorn and onions for some reason. And for those plants in shadier parts the slug problem was ten times worse, which is saying something!
Lettuce and salad veg are probably the obvious answers, along with spinach and beets - all of these will bolt if they get too much sun, and actually prefer a bit of shade in the afternoon.
A lot depends on how much sun they do get, whether it's an exposed spot, ie, how windy it is, is it a frost pocket, whereabouts in the country you are and so on. There may also be a problem with the ground warming up enough to germinate seeds, so you may either need to sow later or sow indoors and transplant out.
Any way, enough from me, there are many other people on here who know much more than I do.
Happy gardening!
Raspberries don't mind a bit of shade, and Morello cherries thrive...
Agree with beets and rasps, in fact go for fruit/veg with darker leaves, they do better than lighter leaved produce.
Early cropping salads as mentioned. And Jerusalem Artichokes do well enough-mine under under the shade of a walnut tree this year and are fine
Hi Lilian
I forgot to copy the link, but from a site called The Old House Web I took this information. Hope it will help with the awkward spot.
Good luck,
Garjan
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The following is a list of vegetables of partial shade-tolerant vegetables. While productions may be greater in the sun, these plants will produce an edible crop when grown in a shady location. However, remember that nothing will grow in complete shade. Plants will need some morning, evening or filtered sun; a total of two to six hours of direct sun is the minimum.
Arugala Rhubarb Beans Rutabagas Beets Salad Burnet Broccoli Salsify Brussels sprouts Sorrel Cabbage Spinach Cauliflower Summer squash Celery Turnips Cress Endive Garlic Angelica Kale Borage Kohlrabi Caraway Leaf Lettuce Chervil Leeks Coriander Parsley Lemon Balm Parsnips Lovage Peas Mint Potatoes Tarragon Pumpkins Thyme Radish