Tips from Olle Garden Bed: 3 Garden Vegetables Grown In The Shade

Although many vegetables need a lot of sunlight to grow, a few can thrive in cool conditions. If you have a shady garden and want to add some vegetables that can grow under these conditions, please check the list below. You may be surprised at which vegetables thrive in the shade! The following content also has some reference value for raised garden beds.

1. Lettuce

Lettuce is a cool weather crop that performs well in some shady places. It is best to plant in early spring or autumn when the temperature is low. In warm weather, it will be tied (seeded) and become bitter.

The amount of shade that lettuce can tolerate depends on its type. Oak leaves and red sails are more tolerant of shadows than iceberg crispy lettuce.

Lettuce likes wet and well drained soil, not too hot or too cold. Soil pH values of 6.0 to 6.5 are ideal for this crop. If you want to plant lettuce in a partial shade, please choose a place with sunshine in the morning and shade in the afternoon.

This vegetable is a shallow rooted plant, so it does not need a deep soil bed. When it comes to soil, lettuce likes to add extra nitrogen to their loose, well drained homes. If your mixture is very sandy, you may need to add some organic matter/compost to help maintain moisture and inflate the space.

If you want to supply lettuce continuously, you can plant it every two weeks from spring to early summer. This will provide you with a range of crops so that you always have fresh lettuce to eat.

Lettuce is a relatively easy crop to grow, so it is a good plant for junior gardeners. With a little care, you can harvest fresh lettuce throughout the season.

2. Spinach

Spinach is a nutrient rich green leafy vegetable that can grow in sufficient sunlight and partial shade. Although some varieties like plenty of sunshine, they can still produce a good harvest in a cool place. The key to planting spinach in the shade is to keep the soil moist. You can do this by covering plants and watering them regularly.

Spinach is a cool weather crop that you can plant two to four weeks before the last frost in spring. However, you can also do this for autumn crops in late summer. Spinach grows best at temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, with a soil pH of 6.5 to 8.

When planting spinach in the shade, please choose a place with at least four hours of sunshine every day. If possible, choose a place with morning sunshine and afternoon shade. This will help prevent the leaves from withering in hot weather. In warm weather, like lettuce, it will be tied up or seeded.

Harvest spinach in the morning and store it in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. You can also freeze spinach to extend storage time. Blanch the whole leaf in boiling water for three minutes, then cool it quickly in ice water. Drain the water and put it into a freezer bag to remove as much air as possible. Frozen spinach can last up to eight months, sometimes even longer.

3. Swiss beet

Swiss beet is a green leafy vegetable, usually grown in gardens and large containers. The leaves of Swiss beet plants are large and dark green, with wrinkled appearance, while the stems are very thick, with colors ranging from white to orange or red. It is related to beets. You can often use these two vegetables in your recipes, whether cooked or raw. In addition, it is a good source of vitamins A, C and K

If you are looking for a green leafy vegetable that can grow in the shade, Swiss beet is a good choice. Its plants don't need enough sunlight to grow. If you plant them in some shade, they will produce more leaves.

When growing Swiss beets in your garden, water them regularly and fertilize them with balanced fertilizers. Swiss beet is a cold resistant vegetable, which can endure frost, so it is planted in spring or autumn. Harvest six to eight inches of Swiss beet leaves.

Swiss beet is a versatile vegetable that you can use in many different recipes. It can be fried, steamed, fried or boiled. It can also be used in soups, stews, salads and pasta. When buying Swiss beets, look for dark green, flawless, fresh leaves. Store it in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Green leafy vegetables saved the day!

Have you ever considered planting a shade garden? If not, you may want to consider it after reading this article! Spinach. Lettuce and Swiss beet are three delicious vegetables that can thrive in a cool place, so you don't have to miss fresh produce because your garden doesn't have much sunshine.