Grow Your Own Magazine

I have a large apple tree in my garden which is shading my veg plot. Is there anything I can grow now in the shade of it?

Is the apple tree affecting the soil too (roots taking moisture etc)? If not, and you have a reasonable depth of soil, then leafy green veg should be ok there - salad leaves and lettuces, cabbages, kale, perhaps brussels. Most things which produce fruit; peas & beans, squash & cougettes, corn, tomatoes etc need sunshine to grow & ripen, so they would not be happy there. Some woodland type fruit could do okay there like blackberries & raspberries, especially if they get sunshine for part of the day.

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Sarah

http://wixypixies.blogspot.com/

“Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?”
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The old rule is "fruit or root" needs sunshine and this link gives some suggested plantings : In the Garden Online - Colleen's Picks - Ten Vegetables You Can Grow in Shade

I think I would add, rhubarb, mint and comfrey to the list!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

I have planted cabbage and sprouts in the shade of a hedge. Don't know how they will do, but not worried as they were 'spare' plants and they are in the neighbours plot as he had nothing to put in there.

Ian

the shade won't bother them, but the lack of moisture might (the hedge will suck it all up).

Mulch the plants well with layers of newspaper after a good soaking.

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Thanks for all those idea's. I would start planting salad seeds now if it weren't for the pouring rain.

I'm glad you posted this, as I have a plot which only gets sun for about 3-4 hours a day and was about to post an almost identical thread! Off to follow Tam's link, now...