Q. I am creating garden beds along a walkway on the west
side along a north facing wall. It is shady there most of the day. What edible
plants can I grow there this time of year?
side along a north facing wall. It is shady there most of the day. What edible
plants can I grow there this time of year?
 |
| Here is the walkway in question |
A. The area next to the sidewalk is a long, a north
facing wall so it does not get much sun. Because it receives less sun, the
production of food will be lower. To come close to maximum production of food of
good quality it needs at least eight hours of bright light. Very bright
indirect sunlight reflected from light colored walls will help production in
this area a lot.
facing wall so it does not get much sun. Because it receives less sun, the
production of food will be lower. To come close to maximum production of food of
good quality it needs at least eight hours of bright light. Very bright
indirect sunlight reflected from light colored walls will help production in
this area a lot.
Less
than six hours of bright light will severely impact the quantity and quality of
vegetables produced from flowers such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, etc. There
will be fewer flowers and thus fewer fruits from these flowers.
than six hours of bright light will severely impact the quantity and quality of
vegetables produced from flowers such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, etc. There
will be fewer flowers and thus fewer fruits from these flowers.
You
would focus on greens, many kinds of herbs, possibly onion and garlic. Keep in
mind that leaf and stem growth is also affected by light. Leaves that grow
under lower light levels tend to be larger, thinner and tend to tear or rip more
in wind and when harvested. They also tend to be less bitter.
would focus on greens, many kinds of herbs, possibly onion and garlic. Keep in
mind that leaf and stem growth is also affected by light. Leaves that grow
under lower light levels tend to be larger, thinner and tend to tear or rip more
in wind and when harvested. They also tend to be less bitter.
On the
flipside, vegetables produced under the high light intensities of the desert tend
to be more compact, thicker, more bitter and frequently tougher in texture.
Full sunlight tends to produce more nutrient-dense leaves, stems and fruits but
may reduce its eating quality or texture.
flipside, vegetables produced under the high light intensities of the desert tend
to be more compact, thicker, more bitter and frequently tougher in texture.
Full sunlight tends to produce more nutrient-dense leaves, stems and fruits but
may reduce its eating quality or texture.
This
time of year focus on the cool season stuff like mustards, kale, lettuce,
spinach, and beets, cauliflower, broccoli, rapini, carrots, escarole, mizuno,
and the like. Some herbs include parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, chives,
lavender and cilantro.
time of year focus on the cool season stuff like mustards, kale, lettuce,
spinach, and beets, cauliflower, broccoli, rapini, carrots, escarole, mizuno,
and the like. Some herbs include parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, chives,
lavender and cilantro.
My list of partial shade or full shade tolerant edibles links with a couple of unposted lists:
SHADE TOLERANT
http://www.raintreenursery.com/Landscaping.html – see shade tolerant list section
add blackberry and comfrey in full shade
Some of the most common and beloved vegetable garden favorites are perfectly suited for shade, including (uncredited list sorry):
Arugula (fast crop)
Basil
Celery
Kale
Lettuce (fast crop)
Peas
Potatoes
Spinach
http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/shade-tolerant-vegetables-zm0z11zsto.aspx
shade tolerant vegetables
from R. Kourik's "Designing and Maintaining Your Edible Landscape Naturally" (1986, 2005, Chelsea Green) p. 133
http://www.robertkourik.com/books/edible.html
Amaranth
Beans
Beats
Borage
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Calendula (flower only)
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Chervil
Cress
Cucumbers
Endive
Fava beans
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lamb's Quarters
Leaf Lettuce **
Leaks
Miner's Lettuce **
Nasturtiums
Nettles
Parsnips
Peas
Potatoes
Pumpkins
Purslane
Radishes (fast crop)
Salsify
Spinach **
Squash
Rutabaga
Turnips
** tolerate deep shade
Shade causes leaves to get bigger to compensate and can increase unit size of crop compensating for loss in number produced. Indeed overall final harvest yield in weight can be similar.
Tall plants can fit closely to shorter ones provided the vertical plants are on the north side or carefully planned on the east or west side.
Trellises support squashes, beans, cucumbers, peas, melons, vining leafy greens and tomatoes. Many tall plants shed their leaves close to the soil surface allowing shade tolerant plants to grow underneath.
Tall vegetables include sunflowers, corn, Jerusalem artichokes, grain Amaranth.
Tall skinny vegetables such as leeks, garlic, salsify, celery, and onions can fit snugly next to lettuce, spinach, endive and other leafy greens.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
http://www.arthurleej.com/a-shadevegies.html
http://extension.missouri.edu/p/g6911
http://www.harvesttotable.com/2012/04/vegetables-for-growing-in-shade/