winter veg in partial shade?

[asilnworb]

Hi..

I have been growing veg during the summer for a couple of years now and having caught the bug want to try some things over the winter. I have some kohlrabi and cos lettuce, spinach and chard seedlings but am worrying about where I should plant them. I have just made a new bed next to a wall, the wall will shade the bed for about half of the day. Will kohlrabi, cos lettuce, spinach and chard be ok in partial shade in the winter months? Or should they be in full sun?

If they need to be in full sun, can anyone tell me what vegetables (or fruit) would do ok in partial shade in the winter?

I think onions will need to be in full sun as they are a root- right?

Thanks for your help!!!

Lisa

[Jeanied]

Hi Lisa - most of the green leafy things you mention should be fine in partial shade. For the rest of the year you could grow things like raspberries and strawberries - which originally were woodland fruit.

[Two_Sheds]

I have some kohlrabi and cos lettuce, spinach and chard seedlings

Lisa, I don't think they're going to come to anything. When does your pack say to plant them?

You can't just plant any old thing at any time of the year ~ for winter, you need to sow winter varieties, eg Rusty and Winter Gem are winter lettuces

[asilnworb]

Hi Lisa - most of the green leafy things you mention should be fine in partial shade. For the rest of the year you could grow things like raspberries and strawberries - which originally were woodland fruit.

Thanks Jeanied.. I will give them a go then Thanks for the strawberry and raspberry tip too.. I hadn't thought about them being woodland fruit.. I will try moving them to the partial shade too.

[asilnworb]

Lisa, I don't think they're going to come to anything. When does your pack say to plant them?

You can't just plant any old thing at any time of the year ~ for winter, you need to sow winter varieties, eg Rusty and Winter Gem are winter lettuces

Hi Two Sheds..

I bought the kohlrabi and cos lettuce as seedlings in the winter veg section of my garden centre.. so I figured they must be for planting out now. And I have a pack of spinach seeds that says you can sow from August to October- I suppose it might not be ready to eat til next year though.

I'll give them a go anyway and see what happens..

Thanks for your help!

Lisa

[veggiechicken]

Hi Lisa and welcome!!
I have a wooded garden so have to grow most things in the shade of trees. Obviously, its not perfect but soft fruit is quite tolerant of partial shade as Jeanie said. I've been growing chard, lettuce and brassicas under the trees through the summer. Some have gone a bit leggy but they're still usable.
The only way to learn what works for you is by trying it so plant your seedlings, sow your seed and take note of how well they do for next year. If you have the space, put some seedlings in the shady bed and some in a sunnier spot. Then you'll find out what really works in your garden

[Two_Sheds]

I bought the kohlrabi and cos lettuce as seedlings in the winter veg section of my garden centre.

Ah, but they also sell carrots to be transplanted ... *tuts and shakes head*

Kohl rabi / RHS Gardening

It might work. I sow radishes in October instead of spring, because they do better for me.

[Penellype]

A lot of my garden is shaded by walls on the south side so it gets very little sun in winter. I've grown broccoli and spring cabbage without problems and also leeks. I think you'd need sun to ripen the onions, so they might not be the best plan. Some varieties of spinach will grow over winter (I've just planted some Bloomsdale), but you may need to wait until spring before you get anything edible, depending on how quickly it gets cold. The spinach may benefit from covering with cloches or something similar too.