Hit the Dirt; Shade Vegetables

Good morning. This is sadly present re-ask if I hit the dirt it's the middle of June already. A month ago the trees had barely started to leaf out and much of the garden and some of the wooded areas were full of sunshine. What a difference a month makes dappled a deep shade under the trees and shrubs under the northwest of my garden. The oaks cast shadows in the late afternoon giving a respite from the sun but encouraging the black flies and mosquitoes. Some people believe their gardens are not sunny enough to grow many vegetables. But there are quite a few vegetables that tolerate a considerable amount of shade. It even benefits them. The thing to consider is how much sun certain plants need to produce a good harvest. Those needing the least amount of sun four to six hours a day would be lettuce chard and spinach. Some of the fecal crops like kale collards and mustard greens and the cresses other Cole crops need a little more sun maybe six to eight hours a day. Cabbage broccoli and Brussels sprouts for instance. Root crops fall in this category radishes beets carrots and turnips also peas and potatoes. What we think of as hot weather crops tomatoes peppers beans

squash and melons for instance require the most amount of sun at least eight hours for a decent harvest. What about perennial crops. Asparagus rhubarb horseradish and sorrel can be grown in partial shade and so can some of your herds. Often the nursery label or catalogue will say grow in full sun. It's worth experimenting some that I've had success with in partial shade a time Sage Dill prostitute chives javelin Tara Gunn and this year I've put in lovage Biba lemon balm and others. Even if your vegetable garden is in an open sunny area many plantings cast shadows that can be to your advantage using space wisely especially when you have a small garden means higher yield plant leaf lettuce seedlings between broccoli plants and they will benefit from the extra shade on a hot day. I tried this peas and grow spinach in the shade. Then I get triple use of the same bed by growing a later crop of cue companies that can use the trellis when the peas come down the roots of the Peas are kept shaded by both crops. Big Grains are a fairly quick

crop about 45 days and could be planted between rows of a long standing crop like celery leaf lettuce and a few radishes might be grown in the shade of a bean teepee. A good project for children. How about putting a few edibles in your flower garden. Some vegetables are very attractive. Do you have a shady spot that you never sure never show what to do with. Try planting red Russian Kale and the blue green curly kale with an annual like impatiens or pansies or maybe blend in the bright oranges and yellows of calendula that do surprisingly well in surprise. In partial shade some of the lettuces have beautiful foliage red tipped like Sangria but a head or Sierra crisp head. All the red frilly lolo Ross and the lovely light green of oak leaves. Can you tell that I like that is about feeding your plants in the shade. Do you notice how the growth might be longer and weaker in them and how they lean towards the sunlight. Give the soil a boost of rock phosphate that encourages steady growth and root development. I'm sure many people

already have their vegetables growing into harvesting greens and radishes. Start some second crops with their leftover seeds. Tuck them into those shady corners of the garden and with a little planning you'll be harvesting right until and perhaps beyond the first frost. This is Sally for hit the dirt.