Shade gardening involve growing vegetables in areas that do not recieve much sunlight. Many people believe that area with limited sunlight are unsuitable for vegetable gardens. However, many vegetables can grew well in shade.
As long as each vegetable is matched with the sunlight that is available in the garden plot, shade gardening is possible. Additionally, shade gardening allow people to use areas in the yard that do not receive much sunlight. It can produce a steady supply of vegetables to eat.
Growing Vegetables in Shade
Vegetables that grow well in shaded areas include spinach and lettuce. Spinach can grow too quick in sunny areas because the excess sunlight cause the plants to produce bitter flavored flower stalks. However, growing spinach in shaded areas result in the spinach growing to its leafy stage and having sweeter flavor.
Lettuce also grow well in shaded areas. Lettuce can be planted in areas that receive shade from building. The lettuce will not wilt in shaded areas.
Leaf vegetable grow well in shaded areas due to the lower light levels that do not stress the plants. The plants can focus on producing leaf vegetables instead of seed. However, other vegetables do not grow well in shaded areas.
Fruiting vegetables like tomatoes and peppers require alot of sunlight to grow well. Tomatoes and peppers need at least six hour of sunlight daily. If they are grown in only partial shade, their plants will be thin and small in size, and the vegetables will also be small in size and will not change color to indicate ripeness.
People should use a chart that group vegetables by sunlight requirements to determine which vegetables require shade and which require full sun exposure. Partial shade refer to areas that receive moderate sunlight. Root vegetables like beets and carrots can grow in partial shade.
Their roots will be smaller then they would be with full sun exposure. However, their edible leaves can be harvested and consumed. Other vegetables that can grow in partial shade include pea.
Peas can be planted in areas under trees where they receive sunlight in the morning but not too much heat. Herbs like cilantro and parsley also grow well in shaded areas due to the mild temperature that the herbs experience when exposed to shade. Some vegetables can also be grown under the canopy of tree.
Sorrel grows well in shaded areas. Its flavor is slightly lemony when cook. Watercress grows well in shaded areas that are also moist.
Its high content of vitamin C make it very nutritious. Kale grows well in shaded areas. Its nutritional value remain the same even if the plants are small in size.
All of these vegetable grow well in shaded areas because these are the same conditions in which they grow in the wild. It is important to note that not all shade area are the same. Areas with dappled sunlight are not the same as solid shade areas like fences.
Additionally, morning sunlight is not the same as sunlight during the afternoon. It is a good idea to map out where sunlight hit the yard during one week to plan the vegetable gardens accordingly. Additionally, raised bed can be used to move plants into sunny areas.
Using light-colored mulch reflect sunlight onto the vegetable plants. Additionally, container of vegetable seeds can be used to allow people to move the plants to different area of the yard according to the change in sunlight throughout the year. Another method of gardening is companion planting.
For instance, people can plant corn to provide shade for spinach plant. Additionally, people can plant peas on trellises to provide shade for kale plant. People can also plant fruit tree to allow shade for chives and sorrel plant to grow.
This method provide people with the best utilization of vertical garden space. Additionally, succession planting can be used. This method involve planting new vegetable seeds every few week to ensure that vegetables like lettuce and arugula are harvested over a longer period.
The yield from vegetable gardens in shaded areas will produce less vegetables. Broccoli take longer to grow if the plants only receive four or five hour of sunlight daily. Cabbage take longer to grow in shaded areas compared to sunny areas.
However, having vegetable gardens in shaded areas is more better than having no vegetable gardens at all. Vegetables like eggplant and squash require full sun exposure to prevent the growth of disease such as mildew. Garlic and leeks can grow in shaded areas; however, their bulb will be smaller than vegetables grown in sunny areas.
Shade gardening will not provide the vegetables that a family require for their diet. However, it can supplement the vegetable gardens that is established in sunny areas of the garden plot. Additionally, shaded vegetable gardens provide protection for leaf vegetable from the harsh sunlight during hot weather.
To start a shade garden, map out the sunlight in the garden and plant shade-tolerant vegetable.