Food for thought. Planting vegetables in the shade

image from therusticelk.com 

​Winter is still here.  We have snow covering the ground.  Not much but the wind is coming up so predicted snow squalls.  Be safe and careful in driving.  High today 33F(2C) while low tonight are you ready for this 6F.  That will be our weekend cold as the high on Saturday is only 9F.  Stay warm , stay safe. 
 
Australia family and friends are having another day of rain for their Saturday January 17.  I am sure greatly needed after those days of high heat.  High will be 70F(20C).  They too will have wind. Stay dry, stay safe. 
 
I am sharing this article about planting vegetables in the shade and in places beside a large garden area.  All food for thought you can think during this January how you can try some of these ways of growing vegetables. 
 
Vegetable Shade Garden Plan: Grow Veggies in Partial Shade  Written By:  Catherine Boeckmann
When you consider your garden location, take into account the varying amounts of sunlight different vegetables need to grow well.
Fruiting crops (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers) need 6+ hours of sun (full sun)
Root crops (carrots, beets) need 4–6+ hours (full to partial sun)
Leafy greens & herbs (lettuce, spinach, kale, parsley, chives) need 3–6 hours (partial shade)
The Plant List
Plant Name  Spacings        Quantity       Sow Indoors Sow/Plant Outdoors
Arugula         Single: 6”, In-Row: 4”, 8” row gap         4          March → mid April April → mid October
Beet    Single: 6”, In-Row: 4”, 8” row gap         11       —        May → mid June
Beet (Multi-sown)  Single: 10”, In-Row: 10”, 10” row gap  3          —        May → mid June
Lavender      Single: 1’ 4”, In-Row: 1’ 2”, 1’ 2” row gap       1          Mid March → mid May    May → June
Lettuce (Leaf)          Single: 4”, In-Row: 4”, 6” row gap         12       March → mid April April → mid September
Mizuna          Single: 10”, In-Row: 8”, 1’ 0” row gap  8          —        Mid May → June
Nasturtium   Single: 1’ 0”, In-Row: 1’ 0”, 1’ 0” row gap       1          Mid April → mid May        Mid May → end of May
Parsley          Single: 6”, In-Row: 4”, 10” row gap       6          April → mid May    Mid May → end of June
Radish            Single: 4”, In-Row: 4”, 8” row gap         14       —        Mid April → mid October
Rhubarb        Single: 2’ 11”, In-Row: 2’ 11”, 2’ 11” row gap 3          —        April → mid May
Sorrel Single: 1’ 0”, In-Row: 1’ 0”, 1’ 0” row gap       2          March → mid May May → end of May
Why This Design Works
This design focuses on crops that naturally tolerate lower light levels, especially leafy greens and herbs that benefit from cooler, shaded conditions during summer. Salad crops grown in partial shade often bolt more slowly, producing tender leaves for longer.
Small Salad Garden Bed
Grow a small bed of spinach and lettuce just outside your back door, where the greens can be harvested frequently as cut-and-come-again crops. Shaded containers also dry out more slowly, making them easier to manage in summer. Having greens growing just outside the back door meant we didn’t buy salad for weeks!
Tips for Growing Vegetables in Shade
Most fruits and vegetables do need “full sun” (6-8 hours of direct sunlight every day) to grow optimally. So, make sure you’re choosing crops that can handle partial shade.
If this is your first shade garden, focus on leafy greens and quickly-cropping crops (such as radishes)
Some perennial vegetables and fruits will cope with partial shade too; globe artichokes, rhubarb, and perennial onions are all happy in a shady setting.
Surprisingly, strawberries will grow reasonably well there, too, but may fruit later than usual. If you’d like to try fruit trees, consider currants, which grow well in partial shade.
You don’t need raised beds to grow food in the shade. Pots and containers work just as well, especially for leafy greens.
Gardener Spotlight: Susie H’s Experience
There are those small areas in each garden or yard that do not receive the daily sunshine needed to grow much in them, or so it appears at first… . But I found that those little spots behind the shed, under the neighbors’ trees, and adjacent to the play equipment can be used, too!
Taken from https://www.almanac.com/shade-vegetable-garden-plan
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365  Beckysgreenhouse.com  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse