Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Firstyear on February 05, 2019, 17:16

Title: Bed in the shade
Post by: Firstyear on February 05, 2019, 17:16

Hi everyone,
This is my first post and I’m looking forward to learning from you all!

I have 3 new beds which I’ve plotted out and looking cant wait to plant up!
One of the beds 3mx1.25m, will be in the shade from around mid October/November time. I’ve planned the crops to clear by that time apart from parsnips and leeks which I will harvest as needed. I wondered if there is anything I can grow over winter in a shady bed? I’d planned to leave it fallow apart from the leeks/parsnips bu thought I’d ask your opinion? 

Title: Re: Bed in the shade
Post by: Missey on February 05, 2019, 18:33

Hello and welcome.

I'm sure someone with more experience & knowledge will be along shortly - I'd go for carrots/beets/brassicas & spuds

Happy planting
Missey

Title: Re: Bed in the shade
Post by: DHM on February 05, 2019, 22:16

You could plant the following years Onions, garlic and shallots as some varieties are suited to overwintering.

Electric Red onions, Jermor & Golden Gourmet shallots, and Germidour & Carcassonne wight garlic all went in in mid Sept on my plot and they're doing fine.

You can get Swiss Chard Bright Lights through winter too but they might prefer more light.

Title: Re: Bed in the shade
Post by: Firstyear on February 05, 2019, 23:10

Thank you! Will have a look into all of those, don’t think I will have time for carrots and beetroot as most crops won’t finish until sept/October, but onions and garlic might work well! I’ve never grown onions/garlic from an autumn sow- do they put on much growth in November or does most of it happen early spring?

Title: Re: Bed in the shade
Post by: DHM on February 05, 2019, 23:40

Quote from: Firstyear on February 05, 2019, 23:10

Thank you! Will have a look into all of those, don’t think I will have time for carrots and beetroot as most crops won’t finish until sept/October, but onions and garlic might work well! I’ve never grown onions/garlic from an autumn sow- do they put on much growth in November or does most of it happen early spring?

They put a suprising amount of growth in before Christmas but can take a few weeks to get started, especially the onions. The first stage is putting roots into the ground, then the tops start poking through the soil. Some varietiez suit overwintering more than others so its worth putting a bit of research in.

Title: Re: Bed in the shade
Post by: Goosegirl on February 06, 2019, 13:27

I find that brassicas do well for me in part shade during summer so winter varieties may also be good. Spring onions and possibly kale and similar members of that family should also be ok to harvest over winter.