Food in the Shade
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Food in the Shade
- From: M* D* C*
- Date: Tue, 7 Dec 1999 02:29:10 -0500
At 12:39 AM 12/7/99 -0500, you wrote:
>
> As they have no
>wish to cut down trees nor thinning out limbs, what fruits, herbs or
>vegitables can they grow in this area.?
>
Paw-paw tree (smallish; grows as an understory tree); wild grapes (on the
edges of the 'woods'); in dappled shade, broccoli, kale, and cauliflower
will grow well in your zone (I've done fine with them in mine). You can
grow tomatoes, summer squash, and a prolific winter squash like Kuta in
partial shade, but the yields will be less. If you grow the tomatoes in
soil with LOTS of compost, the yield improves substantially. Chives, dill,
sage, and basil will grow in partial or dappled shade; also, spearmint and
peppermint. Peppers didn't work for me, but red raspberries grow with only
reflected sunlight. Shallow rooted and early, fast growing things that
don't mind the tree roots and are harvested before the trees leaf out will
work, too - try spinach, Chinese cabbage, snow peas, sugar snap peas, and
mustard greens.
Sheila Smith
mikecook@pipeline.com
Niles, MI USA, Z 5/6
