One of the biggest reasons I hear for not starting a veggie garden is “I only have shade”, or “There are so many trees around me, I have no sun”.
Did you know that there are some veggies that do great in the shade? Greens, including salad greens, and root crops like carrots and potatoes do well in the shade, along with some herbs. They do take a little bit longer to mature, but the shade also helps to prevent bolting of some of the best shade lovers like lettuce, spinach, and kale.
They do need between 2-3 hours of sun a day, but many large trees have bare spots that allow for the sun to break through. You could trim some lower branches to get some low morning and afternoon sun. Another bonus to a shade veggie garden, cooler work temperatures when you’re out there!
Does this inspire you to start a shade veggie garden? Are you lovin’ the shade yet?
