What do I class as shade & would something grow here

[tlck9]

Hi there,

This is going to be my first time planting a small veg plot, I hope to have my allotment next year, so I'm doing this, a) because I have a space that I want to fill and b) I wanted a test bed to see how I do

I have a small 1m x 1m area that I intend to use a slate wall around, it is between a fence and my Oil tank wall.

It is fairly light, but does not really get the sun...
I've read that shade means at least 6 hours sunlight, does this mean actual sun on the plot, or light?

I would like to plant Veg here and continue to use it for smaller veg that I will use on a day by day basis

Any help appreciated

[zazen999]

Hi
I've got a little courtyard which has 4 beds on it, but 2 of those get very little sunlight. I still grew carrots, beetroot, toms, broad beans, garlic, onions, basil, peas and others that I can't remember.

I fill it with spring onions for the spring, and some garlic, and shallots for the winter. In a few weeks, it will have broad beans and peas in there for an early crop [once they have germinated and been hardened off].

The best thing to so is to pop some hardy stuff in, and succession sow year round - you can section the bed into the 4 veg types and rotate as you go. Look into square foot gardening to see how to get the best from small spaces.

I would grow in 4 mini beds
carrots and spring onions
lettuce and herbs
3 or 4 sprouting broccolis at any one time,
broad beans and peas

if you see what I mean - keeping it simple.

To increase light in the winter, you can pop some white painted board up to reflect the light onto your mini-patch.

but it depends on what you like to eat

[tlck9]

thanks thats is really helpful, in fact the wall of the oil tank is white, so that will do the job one side.

I like the idea of growing Garlic. My other half would love peas!

If I may one further question (my grandad did all this, and as a child you dont take notice!!)

If I get some peas seeds? from the nursery, when would I plan them, or could you recommend a place to buy

and by germinate (sorry dumb question) how do I do this

[zazen999]

Hi

If you pop your location into your profile, then someone more local might be able to help on the supplier front.

I put my seeds either in modules, or compost filled toilet rolls, or little pots to germinate. If you've really not grown before - then pop the kettle on, and do some searching using the search facility...there are lots of ways of germinating seeds - but essentially you are putting them somewhere damp at the temp they need to sprout. I've had to put mine into damp kitchen roll and in a plastic bag as we've got the builders in and nowhere to put modules at the moment.

Once they have germinated, if they were sown indoors, then they need hardening off to get themselves accustomed to the outdoors conditions.

I'd recommend, as a first timer - to do research on each different thing you want to grow - here and on other forums/sites - until you feel that you are confident enough to grow it.

But

If you want to get started - and you have any garlic cloves lying around, separate them out - and choose a few of the biggest, and plant them pointy end up - about an inch deep in the soil. Cover it up with soil and leave it be. If it pops out, put it back in. That's will get you started on the road to gardening.

[tlck9]

Thanks again, I happen to have some garlic bulbs, so I will give this a try.

[SlugLobber]

Welcome to the site! I class any area that does not get direct sunlight as being 'in the shade'. Another trick to increase light is to wrap something in foil, like photographers do!