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What veg to grow that don't need much sun?
I am fortunate to have an allotment this year, but loved growing veg in my garden. I have a corner patch which doesn't get very much sun and wonder which veg would be happiest there.
I have seedlings waiting to go out, and want the best out of what I have.
Last year I used that area to grow sweetcorn, which did quite well. Well, the ones on the sunnier edge did anyway, and runner beans which didn't seem to like it there as much.
Ideas as quick as poss please as I have a bit of free time today and can't go to allotment, so want to use my time profitably.
Oh, the seedlings are, broad beans, tomatoes, leeks, chillis and sweet peppers, all of which need lots of sun, I think. I do have various salad seeds, beetroot, carrot, parsnip etc. Just the general family veg really.
I have seedlings waiting to go out, and want the best out of what I have.
Last year I used that area to grow sweetcorn, which did quite well. Well, the ones on the sunnier edge did anyway, and runner beans which didn't seem to like it there as much.
Ideas as quick as poss please as I have a bit of free time today and can't go to allotment, so want to use my time profitably.
Oh, the seedlings are, broad beans, tomatoes, leeks, chillis and sweet peppers, all of which need lots of sun, I think. I do have various salad seeds, beetroot, carrot, parsnip etc. Just the general family veg really.
Father Ted: Now concentrate this time, Dougal. These
(he points to some plastic cows on the table) are very small; those (pointing at some cows out of the window) are far away...
:D:D
(he points to some plastic cows on the table) are very small; those (pointing at some cows out of the window) are far away...
:D:D0
Comments
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Why not get a good gardening book or read through the seed packets? Some varieties prefer less sun that others. Is the area waterlogged or free draining?
Salad leaves and things such as pak choi don't require full sun, they prefer a bit of shade otherwise they will bolt too quickly.0 -
It would be fairly free-draining. Certainly not waterlogged. I had put some pak choi in last year that I got for about 7p in B&Q and it did nothing, but I just left it all winter. I couldn't believe it yesterday. It looks like it has bolted! Well, before it was just a little flat area of leaves and now they are all about 8-10" high! Having never seen a plant of them, just packs in Asda, not sure if that's right. Might just pick them and do a stir fry today.Father Ted: Now concentrate this time, Dougal. These
(he points to some plastic cows on the table) are very small; those (pointing at some cows out of the window) are far away...:D:D0 -
It would be fairly free-draining. Certainly not waterlogged. I had put some pak choi in last year that I got for about 7p in B&Q and it did nothing, but I just left it all winter. I couldn't believe it yesterday. It looks like it has bolted! Well, before it was just a little flat area of leaves and now they are all about 8-10" high! Having never seen a plant of them, just packs in Asda, not sure if that's right. Might just pick them and do a stir fry today.
If it's bolted, you can see a thick stem in the middle of the leaves which look like they will flower
Normal pak choi
0 -
yep, it's bolted then!!!!!Father Ted: Now concentrate this time, Dougal. These
(he points to some plastic cows on the table) are very small; those (pointing at some cows out of the window) are far away...:D:D0 -
The rule of thumb is that if you harvest the vegetable for it's root or fruit (ie Carrots and Tomatoes, then it does better in the sun. If you grow it for it's leaves or stems then a bit of shade won't do it any harm. It's doubtful though that permanent shade ie in the shade of everygreens, then it will struggle.
Given a bit of sun for at least 3hrs of the day, then you should be able to grow:
Lettuce, cress, endive
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Peas
Sprouts
Radishes
Beets
Spinach
Kale
Swiss CHard
Chives
Mint (can be evasive)
Parsley
Fruit such as
Blackcurrant
Raspberry
Rhubarb (is that fruit?)
Gooseberry
If you have shade because of a deciduous tree, then try early veg like
Spring Cabbage
Winter Lettuce
Broad beans
sown in autumn to make the most of the leafless trees.
Again, if it's tree shade, could you remove some of the lower branches to lift the canopy? Don't forget also, to add lots of organic matter to improve a hungry soil.
Oh and starting your veg off in modules and pots can help them get a bit more of a start.0 -
Now, that is really helpful. It isn't shade from trees, as unfortunately our neighbour insisted they all were cut down last year. Now we hardly get very many birds :-(
The garden faces east, the corner that is bottom right as you look out on it, is surrounded by a 6' fence on 2 sides and doesn't get as much sun as the other side of the garden.
I am doing broccoli, cauliflower, beans, peas and salad leaves this year, so I will put those in that spot and save the sunny bits for my roots and fruits!
Unfortunately all my seed packets say to sow in sunny, free draining soil, which is why I was asking. There isn't one that says it doesn't need full sun. But as most packets were either very cheap or freebies, I'm certainly not complaining!Father Ted: Now concentrate this time, Dougal. These
(he points to some plastic cows on the table) are very small; those (pointing at some cows out of the window) are far away...:D:D0
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