What Would Be The Best Fruit/vegetable To Grow In Low Sun Area?
Posted by admin on February 2, 2010
Hi
I have an area in my backyard where i want to grow something edible, preferably fruit. The issue is the area only gets a good amount of sun in the middle part of the day, but when there is sun it is good intense sun. What would be the best thing for me to grow there?
If it helps i live in the Bay Area in California.
The problem is that just about all fruit and vegetables need a lot of sun The only exceptions seem to be legumes and berries. So that includes peas, beans and things like blueberries, strawberries, and some grapes. I guess because all of these have a way to reach for the sun. When it comes to fruit and vegetables its almost synonimous with the sun. They will yield better with more sun. Its almost no getting around it. I recommend trying to cut back tall tree branches if that is in the way. Get one of those pruning poles and cut as much as you are allowed or able. Don’t underestimate every foot of branch you cut back will contribute to the growth and production levels. I recently bought a 14 pole pruner from the Home Depot and they are difficult to use but it really helps. If your neighbor’s trees are in the way you technically have rights to cut any branches that grow over your property line. But its alway not a bad thing to ask if it looks like its an important tree to them. I hope this helps.
I live in Marin and have a very shady backyard. Last summer I grew grape tomatoes and they did very well. I had them in pots so I could move them around to other spots of the yard as the sun changed. I also grew hot peppers, which didn’t mature until late in the season but once they did they were tasty. I tried herbs but they went to seed very quickly, I think because the weather was so hot. This year I’m going to try leafy greens because I’ve heard they grow well in my area. I’d like to grow some kind of berry but am not sure which would be the best to try.