Vegetables that require less sunshine

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by silu, Jan 25, 2016.

  1. silu

    silu gardening easy...hmmm

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    I had hoped to increase my veg patch considerably BUT I have given in to the nagging from my family that I'll kill myself if I do even more in the garden than I already am!
    My plans have now changed (probably for the best altho I hate to admit it:)) and I will make do with the veg growing area I already have plus will grow some veg in amongst my substantial herbaceous borders. My question is which if any of the veg I intend to grow will be relatively happy being in shady areas as now not all I want to grow will be in full sun.
    I will be growing the following (not including what I will grow in the greenhouse).Peas, Mange Tout, Broad Beans, French Beans, Carrots, Parsnips, Beetroot, Onions (both sets and from seed) Leeks, Cauliflower (this could be completely hopeless but going to give them a go) Sweetcorn (grow some in the greenhouse as well).Radish, Spring Onions and Lettuce. Which of the forgoing will be less affected by lack of sunlight? Hope someone can give me the best options, thanks.
     
  2. "M"

    "M" Total Gardener

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    I can vouch for lettuce (and spinach!) both of which I grew last summer against the fence on the patio which gets NO sun at all!
     
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    • Phil A

      Phil A Guest

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      Sweetcorn is a C4 Plant so it's best grown in full sun. The others are C3 plants so can't photosynthesis in the midday sun, so as long as they get a bit of sun in the early morning and later afternoon then it shouldn't reduce the yield too much :fingers crossed:
       
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      • silu

        silu gardening easy...hmmm

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        Wow you live and learn @Zigs . I presumed, wrongly that most of my veg would sulk. This is great news, many thanks. @M I had forgotten to add Spinach to my list of what I will be growing so very useful. I grew Swiss Chard last year. OMG I could have stocked Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury with it and only my husband liked the damn stuff so that is off my list and Spinach on instead.
         
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        • "M"

          "M" Total Gardener

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          Did you grow the chard in a shady spot?
          I might be tempted to give it a go.
           
        • Phil A

          Phil A Guest

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          It's a trade off between drying out and photosynthesis, as the sun heats the plants up the stomata (breathing holes in the leaves) close, photosynthesis can only carry on till the CO2 remaining in the leaves is used up, after that it shuts down till it cools down again :)

          Sweetcorn can use the sun right thru the day though :SUNsmile:
           
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          • silu

            silu gardening easy...hmmm

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            I grew it in both sun and shade. To be honest a friend gave me a packet of seed and knowing sweet FA about Swiss Chard I sowed the lot. It came up like Cress and so it was planted all over the place both in sun and not. It probably grew a little better in sun but was fine in shady areas too. It is STILL growing. It didn't bat an eyelid at some fairly low temperatures that we had recently and the only thing which has stopped it taking over the whole garden is Deer like it. They have hovered up the vast majority of it down to the ground. I'd like to say the Deer have just kept to eating the Chard.....no, most of my Camellias are now both leaf and budless, (insert many swear words of your choosing), and I'll hardly need to prune my Roses and various other shrubs. I wouldn't mind quite so much if we'd had a really hard winter but we flaming haven't so far. Anybody got a gun?:gaah:
             
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            • clueless1

              clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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              I've grown chard (and leaf beet, which is often called chard but isn't) in a fairly shady spot. It did very well. I also tried It in my south facing front garden that gets all the sun. It failed miserably. Simplycouldn't get enough to drink no matter how much I watered it.
               
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              • "M"

                "M" Total Gardener

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                • clueless1

                  clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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                  I might grow some again this year. I'd forgotten about leaf beet and chard.
                   
                • silu

                  silu gardening easy...hmmm

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                  If anybody would like to pop over and dig mine up you'd be more than welcome. I'm sure they wouldn't mind being transplanted, they've put up with just about everything else without batting an eyelid.
                   
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