What can I grow here?

[sarah_rance]

Just outside my back door I have a little border. Its about 18 inches deep, always in full shade, and underneath conifers. The soil is heavy clay.
Nothing I've ever put there has done well, except a jackmanii clematis.
I'm keen to use this space for veggies too but I'm not convinced much will grow there.

Here's a pic of the bed right near the back door.

Thanks guys

Sarah

[woody21]

i remember a post on here where someone said that conifers take a lot of water from the area that they are growing in and probably all the nutients too.

it would make a nice raised bed with a few more courses of bricks or stone to build it up.

i would be tempted to fill that swimming pool with compost too what a cracking raised bed that would be! grow a ton of spuds at least!

[Nicos]

I'd go for a raised bed too- or how about pots and tubs??( you could move those about into the sun from time to time )

[Florence Fennel]

I think I'd go for pots and tubs as Nicos says, it's a good space Sarah. You could try sowing coriander into the soil, though I'm not sure how it copes with clay. Cut and Come again salad might do ok, that doesn't mind shade.

[Bigmallly]

There is a previous thread here Sarah which discusses shade loving veg.

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...veg_52082.html

[eirish]

How about mint and/or lemon balm? Looks like a good space to keep it contained.

[tamsin]

Would raspberry canes work? You might not get as many as an ideal spot but we get a few handfuls from plants in a tub against a north facing fence so I should think in the ground and spread out you might get a few and it would give you a nice green wall instead of a fence to look at. Go for thornless though

[sarah_rance]

Great ideas guys - I had planned to put more pots ther until I realised it never ever gets any sun. But like you guys say, I could move em about or even rotate them with other.
I had thought about salad there, but I think you're right it would need to be a raised bed for best effect. and to stop my pooches chewing on it!
I'm off to read that shade loving thread - thanks BM