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Feature imageGrowing in the shadows

If you have a shady garden it doesn't mean you can't grow vegetables, there are some crops which will tolerate these conditions. Sandra Geere has some suggestions

Crops that tolerate shade


Salad leaves
Salad leaves

Blueberries
Blueberries

Some herbs tolerate shade wel
Some herbs tolerate shade well

French beans
French beans

Raspberries
Raspberries

Pot marigold
Pot marigold


We all benefit from a bit of sunshine now and again and for most fruit and vegetables it's crucial for their growth and ripening. However, sometimes we are better sitting in the shade rather than roasting on the beach and some fruit and vegetables positively thrive without scorching sun on them all day. In fact the number of vegetables, fruit and herbs you can grow in more shady conditions is longer than you might expect.
This is very good news, especially for those gardeners whose only growing space is overshadowed by trees, their neighbour’s conservatory extension or an overgrown leylandii hedge.


Protective shading

Although no crops will thrive in constant deep shade many will be happy growing in light shade or receiving just a few hours of sunlight each day. With a little imagination you can turn the situation to your advantage. Another common situation is the sunny site which has shade caused by tall–growing plants such as sweetcorn, beans and tomatoes. This can be used for inter-cropping with fast-growing lettuce or other salad leaves, radishes, spring onions or spinach.

Shady soil

When shade is cast by sheds or buildings the soil may still be good, but possibly a bit on the dry side as the buildings act as a rain shadow. However, the soil beneath trees or hedges will be dry and possibly impoverished too. The tree roots will demand a great deal of moisture and nutrients. This does not mean the end of veg growing, but it would be better to grow crops in containers or raised beds of good soil in this area.

The future

If climate change is going to happen then we are set for drier, hotter summers and in recent years drought conditions have already posed a real challenge to gardeners, apart from last year! If this is to be our future then the advantages of a fertile, shady situation is clear.
Crops such as lettuce, rocket, spinach and chard are far less likely to bolt (run to seed) if grown in a cooler, shadier spot which also retains soil moisture better.

Mulch shade

There are many benefits of shading the soil with mulches such as helping retain moisture and suppressing weeds. Mulches are just as important on beds and containers in more shady situations to help retain moisture. Suitable ones include bark chips, cocoa shell, composted straw, home-produced compost or even cardboard or newspaper. All are biodegradable and will break down, adding organic matter to the soil.

 

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