Shade Gardening
I live in Oak Park, next to the city of Royal Oak, both located in Oakland County. I’m sure you’ve guessed, I live in a giant, beautiful forest. We have trees here hundreds of years old, bigger than the ones you’ll find in many northern Michigan locations. Most of the original forest here was never logged. Don’t get me wrong. I know there is a need for construction lumber and toilet paper. Fortunately, we barely need any trees for newsprint and paper any longer due to computers and the internet - a great nature saving.
I’m writing this today for the people who live with an abundance of shade in their yard. You have probably asked: “What vegetables and fruits can I grow in my shady yard?”.
First, I want to warn you, if you have too much shade, very little will grow, even the plants I will describe. Photosynthesis requires light. It’s that plain and simple. If you have a shady yard with some light, you will be able to grow some of your own fresh produce. Note: I’m sticking with edible plants in this article, not ornamentals.
The edible plants that produce best in shady yards are leafy vegetables and root crops. There are some fruits that produce fairly well in shade too, but not many.
LEAFY VEGETABLES
Kale Broccoli Cabbage
Cauliflower Lettuce Brussel Sprouts
Spinach Arugula Swiss Chard
The green leafy vegetables should be started as seedlings indoors and transplanted outdoors, before the trees in your yard have completely leafed out. After transplanting, you can place a row cover over the plants to protect them from frost and snow. A row cover is a thin fabric that allows light and water in for the plants. (You can see it in the photo above - plants uncovered.) Basically, you are getting a head start on all the other plants.
You can also buy reflective mulch to cast light up onto your plants to increase photosynthesis. Reflective mulch is basically a thin, shiny plastic sheet that comes in rolls of 30 inches by 100 feet. Lay sheets of reflective mulch between rows of plants. You could probably try using the inside of a potato chip bag for the same purpose. If you use reflective mulch, you must make sure that your plants receive enough water.
ROOT CROPS
Radishes Turnips Carrots
Beets Onions Scallions
Leeks Potatoes
For root crops, you sow seed directly into the soil outside. The soil needs to be warm enough for the seeds to germinate. You can place some clear plastic over your beds for a few sunny days before you sow seed. This will warm up the soil. Do this before the trees leaf out. I wouldn’t leave the plastic on for more than a few days because you don’t want to destroy all the soil microbes. Also, save the plastic to reuse year after year. If you are really ambitious, you can buy a compost thermometer to test the soil temperature. You want a soil temperature around 68 degrees Fahrenheit for quickest germination of these root crops. The soil temperature can be lower when you sow. It will just take longer for the seeds to germinate.
FRUITS
Blueberries Blackberries Raspberries
Currants Gooseberries
There are a few fruits that will tolerate partial sun, but your yields may be reduced. You might want to try a few of these plants to see how they grow before you sink a lot of money into these fruits. Also, if you live in an area where White Pine trees are growing, you SHOULD NOT plant currants or gooseberries because they are the alternate host for the White Pine blister rust fungus. This rust will not spread amongst the White Pine trees unless the alternate host is present. There are lots of White Pines in Michigan so you should not plant currants or gooseberries.
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| White Pine Blister Rust |
Under shade, your plants will not need as much water. Also, you should check for snails and slugs periodically, especially during wetter weather. A few other plants worth mentioning that will grow in partial shade are: pumpkins, hazelnuts (filberts) and asparagus.
Generally speaking, you can grow a decent amount of your own food in a shady yard with some sun. The most important thing to remember is: once you’ve chosen the right plants for your shady garden, you need to get a head start in the early spring. You can eat more of your own homegrown fresh produce.
Check out the new book "Organic Gardening for Beginners and Students" by Edwin McLeod on Amazon.com. Here is the link:
About the Author
Edwin McLeod has been gardening for 45 years. He studied Botany at the University of Michigan, receiving a Bachelors Degree. After graduating, he worked for Dr. Lloyd Andres at the USDA Biological Control of Weeds Laboratory in Albany California. During this time, he conducted a survey of 20 organic farms in California to find out how they control weeds without using herbicides. Shortly thereafter, he managed a small farm owned by Benjamin Berg. In the early 80s, he worked for Amigo Bob Cantisano at Peaceful Valley Farm Supply. Edwin McLeod is the author of “Feed the Soil” - a book about how to improve soil fertility through natural methods and green manuring. He has taught high school students Biology and Physics for the past 30 years. “Organic Gardening for Beginners and Students” is an outgrowth from his Biology of Food class at the Center for Advanced Studies and the Arts in Oak Park, Michigan.
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