Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Farmer Fred on March 24, 2007, 21:28

Title: growing stuff in almost permanent shade
Post by: Farmer Fred on March 24, 2007, 21:28
about half my back yard recieves very little sunlight at all, getting a tiny bit first thing, but then next door blocks any direct sunlight for the rest of the day. Most of the other half of the garden, (the bit where my plots are) gets sunlight from late morning to the evening. is there anything that will grow well without needing a lot of direct sunlight, or will i be better just to leave that part of the yard alone?
Title: growing stuff in almost permanent shade
Post by: WG. on March 24, 2007, 21:36
Hamburg Parsley

Now you say "almost permanent shade" and then "without needing a lot of direct sunlight" ... these are very different.  If it gets some light then spinach, beetroot and lettuce could all be worth an experiment.  Comfrey tolerates light shade.

I find that garlic grows quite well in areas shaded by deciduous trees; this because it does a lot of its growing while the trees are bare.
Title: growing stuff in almost permanent shade
Post by: Farmer Fred on March 24, 2007, 21:47
Quote from: "whisky_golf"
Hamburg Parsley

Now you say "almost permanent shade" and then "without needing a lot of direct sunlight" ... these are very different.  If it gets some light then spinach, beetroot and lettuce could all be worth an experiment.  Comfrey tolerates light shade.

I find that garlic grows quite well in areas shaded by deciduous trees; this because it does a lot of its growing while the trees are bare.


it gets  maybe an hour sunlight in the early morning, and then its in shade the rest of the day.
Title: growing stuff in almost permanent shade
Post by: WG. on March 24, 2007, 21:51
Quote from: "Farmer Fred"
it gets  maybe an hour sunlight in the early morning, and then its in shade the rest of the day.

Hope you like Hamburg Parsley then!   :D   Try some of the other suggestions in the least shaded shady parts.  Plant at an increased spacing to compensate.
Title: growing stuff in almost permanent shade
Post by: muntjac on March 24, 2007, 21:53
dont suppose ya have a brick wall opposite the bed do ya ,,,,,,, if so paint it white to reflect light back onto ya crops ... :wink:
Title: growing stuff in almost permanent shade
Post by: king cauli on March 24, 2007, 23:38
purple sprouting broccoli does really well in the shade too.
Title: growing stuff in almost permanent shade
Post by: WG. on March 25, 2007, 07:40
Quote from: "king cauli"
purple sprouting broccoli does really well in the shade too.

Good to know.  I'll certainly be trying that.