What can I plant in full shade?

funkymonkey849

I have a bed approx 1.5x0.5m. It is squashed between the house and a 6ft wall (our garden is raised). It probably gets the sun for 2 hours max in the summer.

At the moment there are some weird fern things and something that produces a really tall purple flower.

Is there much I can plant here? Ideally I'd like to use the space for veg (or fruit) as I am quite limited in this space already, but failing that it would be nice to have some pretty flowers to look at while I'm doing the dishes

celerity

If it's near your kitchen, how about a herb garden? This link might give some ideas: http://www.diynetwork.com/outdoors/shade-loving-herbs/index.htm

I'd personally be tempted to try rosemary, as I've had success growing it in shaded areas before, and every time you cook with a bunch of it you are saving 80p from the supermarket .

/\dam

funkymonkey849

celerity wrote: »

If it's near your kitchen, how about a herb garden? This link might give some ideas: http://www.diynetwork.com/outdoors/shade-loving-herbs/index.htm

I'd personally be tempted to try rosemary, as I've had success growing it in shaded areas before, and every time you cook with a bunch of it you are saving 80p from the supermarket .

/\dam

I tried rosemary there and it died! I have most of my herbs in another part of the garden except for chives and lavender - would either of these grow?

valentina

Rhubarb, gooseberries, black and redcurrants and raspberries will tolerate shade.

cormie

The position does limit what you can grow. But there are still edible plants for such a position.
You could fan train a Morello Cherry on the wall or fence, not much point growing them if you don't like sour cherries for cooking-I can't stand them!
Plum trees 'Czar' and 'Belle du Louvain' will also grow well in shade and can be fan trained on the wall or fence.
Red and white currants as well as gooseberries should do fine-these could be grown as standard plants so you could put other plants beneath them. Rhubarb could be grown there too.
Chives, Parsley and mint will probably be fine, but don't forget that the mint can spread aggressively!
Leafy veg such as Cabbages and Broccoli should be grand too.

You could also interplant with some shade loving flowering annuals to give some colour such as Nicotiana-look out for ones that are scented at night-Just make sure not to eat them!

cormie

Lavander needs as much sun as you can give it.

Strapped

I have a similar, north facing bed sandwiched between my kitchen and back wall which is filled with comfrey (used to also have other things but the comfrey smoothered everything else ) - pretty yellow flowers, attracts bees, and you can eat it or put it in oil for a healing / soothing balm for aches and pains. Great stuff. (But like I said, it spreads, although apparently you can get a variety that doesn't self seed).

springchicken

valentina wrote: »

Rhubarb, gooseberries, black and redcurrants and raspberries will tolerate shade.

Hi
Have got a few raspberry canes and only room I have is a shaded area with 1 hours sun early morning.
Would they grow well in these conditions ?
TIA
Spring

celerity

funkymonkey849 wrote: »

I tried rosemary there and it died!

Heh, I'd better stop giving advice then, I'm really just a beginner gardener .
Although, you could try some mushrooms...

/\dam

roosterpotatoes

I am currently growing cauli and broccoli in shade like what your describing where they only get sun for max two hours in the morning
They are doing fab, i sowed them last july so they would over winter as i lost the lot last year due to them being in the sun and they bolted
They have lovely small heads now, ill post a pic up in a bit!!

roosterpotatoes