[Elisabeth]

Hello,

1st day on my new plot and have just noticed 'Giant Conifer!' in garden backing on to my plot, the shade of which covers the entire plot.  Any advice as to what type of vegetables or fruit would be most suitable in this mostly shady environment would be of great help!

[Zak the Rabbit]

Tricky one, unfortunately this doesnt come under the same rules as if it were blocking light into your own property, where they would have to cut it down to a suitable size.

If the area shaded isnt too big, i would suggest using that area for your compost bins, water/comfrey barrels, shed etc. That way you can use the maximum space on the plot with good light.




Martin

[hayles62]

Have a word with the owner, they may be really nice peeps who would be willing to cut it back for you, you could promise them some fresh veg or some wine made from your fruit. You might find some new friends you never know.... Good luck.

[John]

Comfrey does reasonably well in shady conditions so you could put your comfrey patch in the shadiest area.

Tough one - the tree - I assume no other plots available?

[James]

WEll, you obviously won't be drilling holes in the base of the tree and pouring glyphosate in, will you?

[John]

WEll, you obviously won't be drilling holes in the base of the tree and pouring glyphosate in, will you?

I think that's called 'criminal damage' on the charge sheet.

Also 'cconifer' covers a lot of trees - when I was a lad we had some rare blue fir in the garden and there was some sort of preservation order on it.  The council sent a man around to remind my father that it must not be cut down - not that he had any intention of doing so.

Plus, the tree was there first and trees are a good thing in the greater scheme of things.

[noshed]

Lettuce do quite well in shade and last year my broad beans were OK in the shade of a fence.

[Ian_P]

Urine on the roots kills conifers eventually. But they might notice the pong!

[John]

I'll be posting an article on the NVS web site about plants you can grow in the shade next week -  asparagus, beetroot, kohl-rabi and hamburg parsley are mentioned.

Sorry, I can't reprint it here.

[John]

The article on growing veg in the shade is now online Some vegetables that will grow in a little shade

[Elisabeth]

...to all who replied - am going to try comfrey in the most shaded part of the plot as suggested an will also be putting shed there.  As for the rest of the plot, am going to have a crack at every veg I like and hope for the best! Thanks again

[WG.]

I arrived late on this thread.  Haven't seen any mention of leaf beet / spinach - I find that my leaf beet does well in semi-shaded areas.

[ziggywigs]

Green beans do better with a bit of shade.

In fact given where you live you may find it a blessing with the hotter summers these days.