food not lawns?
 

I know I should probably post this in the gardening forum, but I need lots of suggestions, and there doesn't seem to be much traffic there.

I am looking for ideas for fruits and veggies that will grow in the shade. Our place is mostly wooded, and the 'yard' part is nicely shaded. Since I loathe mowing, I'm wondering what sort of goodies I could grow there instead of grass.

We do a have 'normal' garden in our field, which gets lots of sun (no shade at all there.) So really all I need are shade ideas. I think we are zone 5.

Can't think of anything for deep shade.

Laying hens might be a good idea. They'll keep grass down and provide food.

Ya know there is a book with that exact title..we had it not too long ago from the library.
The whole idea of landscaping with edibles is very intriguing. The only downside to it is finding enough balance, too much of the same thing and not enough of things you'd like to match the area you're planting. I planted blueberry bushes along a section in front of our house, grapes that I plan on trellising up my porch front and passi flora on another side of the same porch. We'll see how well it over winters.

What a great thread! I am looking at the same issue - HUGH oak tree in my front yard that I would like to grow something edible/herbal under it. The only thing I could think of was hostas - and I'm fairly certain they're not edible. Can you remember the name of the book(s)?

I think if grass will grow, you'd have some luck...again, greens are the best...lettuce, spinach, some herbs.
If no grass is growing there, it is either too shady for anything, or the pH is so off that it needs to be addressed also. Tree roots can take too much moisture and nutrients out of the soil, also possibly causing lack of growth of shallow rooted plants.

Yeah, there is a book by the same title :D I read it and loved the idea, so we have a huge garden in our front lawn. It isn't in the shade though. Is there anyway you can lop off the offending branches to give the lawn-soon to be garden- more sun?

You could plant under story trees in your lawn, like service berry that would grow in shade and provide you with fruit, but then what to do with the area under -that- tree? Do you have chickens? You could plant a hay mix and cut it for their use. Or you could plant woodland species under the fruit trees like columbine, bottlebrush grass, jewel weed (good for helping poison ivy), spring beauty, trillium, trout lilly, bottle gentian etc... There are tons of books on woodland flowers and you can get the seeds anywhere. You could even use the woodland plants as a cash source by selling their seeds online once they're established. Plus you'd get a great show in the spring!

ETA: here's the link to the book

You might also check out Forest Gardening, seems more useful if what you're really wanting to do is garden in the shade: Edible Forest Gardens

Yes, herbs would do well in lots of places near the house..a big part of the permaculture movement is just that, having herbs and ready to use foods of that nature just a step or two away from the house.

This site is an interesting one...
http://www.ediblelandscaping.com/

I planted some leftover seeds in the shade in my yard: carrots, beets, radishes, lettuce. Got ONLY a little lettuce. :(

Patty

water as well as shade
 

don't forget that trees have large root systems and "own" the moisture in the soil around them. Shade isn't the only issue you deal with - water needs to be addressed also. I know if you have partial shade in your veg. garden, you can put up 'walls' of aluminum foil to reflect some of the sunlight on to the plants to give them the daily requirement so they can fruit.

I would think out the trees as best as I could - watch for areas that have more sunlight and plant there rather than closest to the trees.

I used to pick raspberries in a young woods. Although the sun shone through in the winter and spring, it was well shaded in the summer. Also, spring bulb flowers. You can't eat them, but they look nice on the table. You may need to build the soil up to get off the tree roots, as in a raised garden.

What about mushrooms?

We use our sheep to mow our yard and it's been great to not have to worry about mowing. Of course, now you have to watch for sheep berries when you walk through the yard... ;-)

Maybe there are some critters you could put there? Chickens, rabbits, etc?

If grass grows in this shaded area it isn't terribly shady. I have blueberries doing well in shade in zone 8- dunno if this would work for you. Not farm level production but have a few dozen so it will soon exceed family needs.

Why not slowly replace the current trees with nut and taller fruit trees?

Now there's a good ideal if it is very shady. Grow oyster mushrooms. If you have access to hardwood tree limbs about 5 to 8 inches across and about 4 feet long, you could stack them in a teepee like and innoculate them with mushroom spores.

Have some good eat'n and maybe find a market for them too.

Thanks, everyone, for the links and ideas.

We do have chickens and rabbits. The rabbits have a huge warren in one shady section. The chickens are in a mostly sunny area since we get better egg production that way, though they do have some shade for hot days.

I like the suggestion of blueberries. Also the blackberries and raspberries. We already have a lot of those, but I wouldn't mind a few more. :p

Any suggestions for shade herbs? I already have sweet woodruff.

I have a large portion of my yard that is shaded. I have had good luck with onions, garlic, turnip greens and collards. Right now I have brussel sprouts that are starting to form small buds, so we will see how they do. My area gets about 3-4 hours a day of light.

galump

Since it is a spring crop, I wonder how asparagus would do?

i'm a tad disappointed... by the thread title, i thought it was someone advocating not mowing and learning about the food and medicine growing in everyones front yards. :shrug:

Tilled up part of our yard that is partially shaded and planted rhubarb, a raised strawberry bed, asparagus, borage, comfrey, French tarragon, and alliums (garlic, walking onions, and hopefully some just for flowers). I tried some blueberries this year, but they do not look very good. Zone 4 here.

I have some horseradish in another, slightly shaded area, and it seems to be doing well. I am working on getting some mushrooms (oyster and/or shiitake) but they will go where it is more shaded. I have tried mint, but it got mowed the first year and I do not see it this year. We even planted alfalfa in one part and I fed it to the rabbits.

As you can tell, I rather work in a garden than mow!

Are your trees evergreen or deciduous? That makes a difference.

You can try sorrel. I have that growing under a tree. And perhaps ramps. Mints do pretty well for me in shade, but they get more bushy when they have some sun. Also they need plenty of water and would competing with tree roots.

My favourite thing to plant under trees is food for the soul - daffodils. I've been naturalising them at the farm for going on 10 years now.