Veg for shade

[kfan]

One more question maybe one day I can actually answer stuff, hehe.

So, I want to do the polyculture thing, but I have quite a few shady spots in the garden. I have some good shade loving plants in the north-east facing bed that did very well last year, but are there any vegetables I can plant in between them?

I initially thought spinach and lettuce during the warmer months? Anything else that doesn't mind shade too much?

[VirginVegGrower]

Spinach, lettuce, chard, rhubarb...

[veggiechicken]

......Cut & come again type salad leaves, herbs, landcress......Depends on how large your existing plants are too. How tall? Do they create their own shade?

[kfan]

The existing plants are not that high, about 20cm is the largest. Rhubarb and chard would give it a bit of height and colour to the bed, that sounds great.

And its just next to my door so cut and come again salads would be quite handy. Ah, I love this planning stage, it is all coming together now in my head

[veggiechicken]

Definitely rhubarb. Its so architectural too and no bother. Most of my garden is shady - trees mostly. I plant wherever I can find a space. I grew my garlic and shallots in between the wallflowers and herbs on a steep west-facing bank - seems to work. The rhubarb is dotted about too, some on the sunnier side of trees. Fun, isn't it?

[Bren In Pots]

Black Kale (Nero Cavalo) always looks pretty and grows well in the shade and would give you the height.

[Piggle]

Ive always found that calabrase and runner beans don't mind a bit of shade.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I have two spots for my calabrese, one on a south facing fence and one completely opposite on a north facing fence. It seems to make no difference in yield so as suggested by Piggle you should be Ok with that.

Colin

[Snadger]

I usually fill any areas that won't grow crops with Comfrey. It will grow ANYWHERE (thats why you need to plant STERILE bocking 14)and produce an abundance of leaves for Comfrey Tea (liquid manure high in potassium)and the bees love it. I usually get about five cuts per year if I cut it down to ground level. Great for adding to the compost heap and it also has medical uses (Its common name is knitbone!)

[kfan]

Didn't realise there are so many options all good!

Snadger: how many Comfrey plants do you think Id need for my plot? It will be about 50 square meter in total this year... And do you only use comfrey or do you mix it with nettles as well?

[Two_Sheds]

I have comfrey edging 3 sides of my lotty: it all gets used (at a guess, that's 60 plants?)

[northepaul]

Raspberries dont mind a bit of shade either.

Also my damson tree is in the most shadiest clay sodden area of my back garden and is thriving...so maybe thats an idea?

[DannyCarter85]

I planted two courgettes in almost complete shade North side of a South facing fence only time they got any sun was very early morning. They did pretty well although the leafs began to suffer from the dark damp conditions. It didnt do the courgettes any harm.