What crops tolerate a bit of shade?

[Philthy]

By 'bit' I mean partial shade from early afternoon to early evening, May through to November. Shade is from south side of plot.

I think beans, brassicas and spuds are a safe bet. Onions I'm not sure. Squash definately not.

[solway cropper]

If you want decent spuds they need as much sunlight as they can get. The tubers contain a lot of starch which is produced by the action of sunlight on the leaves. Less sun = less spud.

[Lumpy]

Most of the oriental crops, spinach, chard etc seem better in some shade as it helps to stop or slow down bolting.

[Thelma Sanders]

I grow beans and peas in my garden, in total morning shade - if that helps.

[arpoet]

Get hold of some old mirrors and site them along the shady side to help refect the light... or... if its a wall, paint it white.... or... old white sheets.

[Bill HH]

Lettuces prefer shade, also most of my brassicas do well in semi shade.

[Lumpy]

Arpoets's idea about mirrors is a good one I use a couple of big ones sourced off Freecycle to bounce light into a shady corner.

[the plumber]

lettuce and most salads.

[Penellype]

Most of my garden is in shade for about half the day except in the very height of summer (and none of it gets any sun at all in the darkest 2 months). I regularly grow potatoes, brassicas, carrots, onions, leeks, tomatoes, peas, beans, courgettes, cucumbers, all sorts of lettuce, blueberries, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries and probably quite a bit else that doesn't readily come to mind. Some things will do better in full sun, but don't write off stuff until you have tried it. I've grown potatoes, broccoli, leeks, raspberries, rhubarb and peas in places where you only get an hour or so of sun all day.

[Chippy Minton]

My understanding (read it in a book somewhere so it must be true ) is leafy stuff is the best to try in shade. Seems to fit with advice above (brassicas and lettuce). Probably not good for anything that need to ripen.

[brownfingers]

I grew dwarf french beans in a very shady spot last year. They did really well.

[planetologist]

I grow soft fruit (mostly blackcurrant and a few raspberries) in the more shady parts, and there's no difference in ripening time to the ones in full sun.

[Vince G]

Soft fruit is good, also rhubarb. What's really sexy if you can find a supplier are ramsons, which are a woodland plant - lovely whiff of garlic when you go down the garden......if you like that sort of thing