Sloped vegetable patch?

[d000hg]

In one corner of our garden is a south-facing banked area about 10m wide by 5-6 high. It's a noticeable slope but not crazy - walking straight up it is possible but hard work, I think it's about 1:8.

It was formerly totally shady under a very large yew tree so is totally bare woodland floor style, but the south side of the yew tree was severely cut back following damage last winter and the area now gets the morning sun then shade later in the afternoon.

My question is if this might be a suitable area for growing veggies. It's out of the way visually, gets a fair amount of light but isn't baked, and is fairly airy but sheltered.



This photo is from 1000 mid-September. Dappling is from sun coming through an apple tree, later in the morning and during the summer this is reduced when the sun is higher.

[scarey55]

I have a similarly sloped veg patch. The only thing I would say is, try and stop all the water from running down the slope and collecting at the bottom. My main problem has been keeping the water at the top.

Also, having looked at the photo, depending on where the bed is, the tree will probably take a lot of water too.

[Jimmy]

Looks a bit shady to me, and the tree roots will probably be a problem.
I would drop a small raised bed onto it a see how it goes.
Jimmy

[Jimmy]

Good place for compost bins or a shed or some chickens.

[veggiechicken]

I had a similar slope and I "terraced" it by running a horizontal board across the slope to act as a retainer, and dragging the soil down behind it to level it.
Mine was under deciduous trees and faced west.
I'd put some fruit bushes in there - something that doesn't mind all the yew needles.

[ESBkevin]

As Veggiechicken says some fruit that likes the needles, I'm thinking Blueberries would be classic. You might get a few strawberries to produce too filling in the gaps. Compost bins are a great idea.

[Jungle Jane]

If you want to grow veggies there I would try,onions like it not too wet so could go at the top of the slope on the right side of the tree in the photo,dig in some compost when planting & the plants will have nutrients to grow. Id half bury some big water bottles by other plants,so water gets to the roots instead of running over the top of the soil. You can do whatever you want there,some plants like partial shade like lettuce & brassicas,I wonder if slugs won't like the yew tree needles.

[Penellype]

Terracing, as VC has done is certainly a good way of providing a level surface to work with. The top area will be full of tree roots and my instinct would be to use containers, perhaps buckets of potatoes near to the tree. You will need to watch the watering so that the top area doesn't dry out and the bottom area doesn't get too wet - a lot will depend on the type of soil you have.

[d000hg]

Thanks all. I don't know why terracing hadn't occurred to me. I imagine the soil itself will be very good after decades of leafmould. Fruit bushes are an interesting idea, blueberries would fit nicely