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Garden Shade Plantsby Harrell's

Blog, Horticulture August 26, 2010 8:49 am

Garden Shade Plants

In this slow economy, it seems like everyone is growing a back yard garden these days. That can be a problem if you do not have a large plot of land that gets full sun throughout the day. Well, there is good news and bad news. The bad news is that most fruit and vegetable plants need several hours of full sun to produce properly. The good news is, if you have an area that gets sun for at least two hours per day or has dappled shade with spots of sunlight shining through tree branches, you can still grow a variety of tasty fruits and vegetables to stretch your food dollar. The trick is picking the correct crops.

Garden Shade Plants – Leafy Vegetables and Greens

In very hot climates, shade can actually be a blessing. If you have an area that gets a couple of hours of morning sun and then shade the rest of the day, it is the perfect location to grow leafy vegetables and greens. The following crops will do well in this environment – arugula, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, onions, and chives. These crops have another advantage in that they have a wide harvesting range. You don’t have to wait for the vegetables to ripen. For example, you can pick your spinach leaves when they are still baby-sized or wait for full maturity.

Garden Shade Plants – Herbs

Another garden crop that tolerates shade well is herbs. Many herbs are best picked when they are small and tender. Grown in full sun, they tend to get too big and you end up with bitter plants and large, woody stems. The following herbs all make good, shade tolerant crops – cardamom, mint, garlic, coriander, parsley, and thyme. Herbs can be picked and used fresh in food preparation or hung in bunches to dry and use throughout the winter.

Garden Shade Plants – Nuts and Berries

If fruits are your favorite, there are a wide variety of berries that tolerate light to medium shade. Strawberries, blueberries, currants, raspberries, and blackberries all grow wild on the edge of woods and forests. They know how to thrive without the benefit of full sun. Pear trees and certain types of nut trees such as filberts and hazelnut will also produce well with only a few hours of sun per day.

The bottom line is, you don’t need a large plot of land that gets full sun all day long to benefit from a back yard garden. If you select your plants carefully, and give them a well-drained, compost rich environment, you can still grow a wide variety of shade tolerant fruits and vegetables. Not only can you reap the benefits of fresh, organically grown produce, you can save money at the grocery store as well.