What crops to plant in the shade
In gardening, it is customary to separate the concepts of shade-loving and shade-tolerant plants. These crops include the following plants and vegetables.
- The former grow well in areas shaded throughout the day, and such conditions do not in any way affect the growth rate, vegetation and yield.
- The latter can grow in the shade, they do not die, give a crop, but still their growth slows down and the lack of sunlight affects the life processes.
Much in growing crops in shaded areas depends on the growing area. In cool regions, for example in Siberia, it is better to grow herbs and unpretentious vegetables in the shade, as some heat-loving plants can be cool there. In regions with a hot climate in partial shade, you can get a good harvest of tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants and peppers.
The quality of the harvest in shaded areas will not be worse, but the fruits, roots and berries will ripen a little longer. If there are shady areas in the garden, then the following vegetable crops can be placed on them without prejudice to yield.
Beet
This culture belongs to shade-loving plants. The root crop grows well in full shade and in areas with small glimpses of light. These conditions, combined with optimal irrigation and fertilization, contribute to the growth of good beet tops, which are used for making soups and obtaining a high yield of root crops.
Cabbage
Almost all types of cabbage - cabbage, Brussels sprouts and broccoli prefer shaded areas with moist soil. In caring for cabbage planted in the shade, it is a timely fight against weeds that grow rapidly.
Potato
He prefers shaded, cool places with optimal soil moisture. Therefore, it can be safely planted in dark places in the garden.
Spices
So that there is no empty space near fruit trees, you can place small beds with spices. Parsley, mint, basil, green onions and dill grow well in the shade. When well-watered, these crops produce rich, lush greens of rich color.
Salad
Almost all types of salads will do well in the shade. Suitable for planting are lettuce, leafy and rocked salad varieties, spinach, watercress and sorrel. These crops prefer cool places with good humidity. Therefore, in the shade, lettuce leaves will be more juicy and with more vitamins.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes can be grown in partial shade in the middle lane and in the South of our country. Special "polar" varieties bear fruit well and tolerate the lack of lighting and cool conditions. These plants are usually very short with thick, fleshy stems.
The fruits on them are formed in clusters, are small in size and juicy flesh. These varieties usually show good yields and are grown even outdoors in northern areas.
Berry bushes
Not all fruit shrubs can grow with a lack of lighting. But some species can be planted. These include plants that grow wild in the forest. In such conditions, they constantly do not get enough sunlight and have long adapted to living in the shade.
These include rose hips, irga, viburnum, honeysuckle, black chokeberry. By planting such shrubs in your dark garden in the fall, you can enjoy delicious berries and dry supplies for the winter.
Red and black currant
These shrubs do well in shade under certain conditions. In the southern regions, they are planted only in the shade. There the berries grow larger and more juicy.In the middle lane, currants can also be planted in the shade, but the harvest can be harvested a little later.
It's not worth worrying about the fact that there is little sunlight on the site. Many vegetables, grasses and shrubs grow well in these conditions. Therefore, you need to pre-select vegetables and other types of plants that will grow in the shade.
Shade-loving climbing plants for the garden. Shade-loving flowers - species
Several types of popular shade-loving garden flowers:
- anemone oak tree (anemone) - "messenger of spring". It blooms for 20 days - from April to the end of May (depending on planting it in the ground);
- lily of the valley (goes well in planting with anemones);
- big astrantia - perennial plant (its height is from 40 cm to 1 m, flower up to 5 cm);
- crested hollow - flowering occurs from the beginning of spring;
- dicentra - reach up to 1 m in height, flowering begins in May and ends in early June;
- foxglove - a two-year-old flower, beautiful from June to August, plant height reaches one and a half meters;
- geranium (geranium bloom occurs from one to one and a half months);
- liverwort - a low plant (from 5 cm to 15 cm), in the form of flowering it resembles a human liver, hence the name;
- hosta is a long-liver in the garden, can grow up to 25 years old, grows slowly, and blooms in August;
- fern.
Also, in any shade, all primroses bloom perfectly and grow for a long time. They can be sown directly under the tree, and if there are seedlings, they can be immediately planted with bushes.
They love the shadow of the violet. Violet is a low fragrant flower that blooms twice a year (April-May) and in autumn.
Shade-tolerant beauty - kupena (fragrant, graceful) is a very rare plant in our gardens and vegetable gardens, but she did not deserve it. This is a very beautiful flower that blooms with white bells in the first half of summer. And no flower can interrupt his smell. Its advantage: it can grow and reproduce in full shade. Reproduction takes place by seeds or roots. Moisture-loving plant. Propagated by root cuttings in spring. As soon as the flower fades, the aerial part dies off.
For shady corners, astilbe is suitable. It blooms from the beginning until the end of summer with small inflorescences of different colors - cream, white, pink and all red shades. A moisture-loving plant, in dry weather requires abundant watering. For the winter, the stems are cut, and the roots are covered with dry foliage. Its growth buds are located close to the soil surface, and therefore it should be protected from frost.
Daylilies and hemerocalis can withstand a little shade; they love fertile soil and moisture. Currently, hybrids have been bred with their multi-colored colors - from white to almost black.
Rare shade-loving garden plants
Below are photos and names of another group of similar colors. These are rare enough shade-loving garden plants that should be planted in your area to feel their delicious aroma.
TOBACCO - NICOTIANA
- Bloom time: June - October
- Location: sunny or slightly shady
- Reproduction: sowing seeds under glass in March
Old-fashioned winged Tobacco (N. alata) has a strong aroma, but needs to be tied up and flowers close during the day. Currently, the usual choice is one of the dwarf varieties 20-45 cm tall or taller hybrids 60-90 cm tall such as the 'Lime Green' and 'Domino' series.
OSTEOSPERMUM - OSTEOSPERMUM
- Bloom time: June - October
- Location: best sunny
- Reproduction: sowing seeds under glass in March
Before a rarity - now you can find these plants and plant them in the spring in a flower bed. These hybrids reach a height of 60-90 cm and are available in various colors. Some (like 'Starshine') have chamomile buds, but especially attractive ones (like 'Whirligig') have spoon-shaped petals.
RUDBECKIA - RUDBECKIA
- Bloom time: July - October
- Location: sunny or slightly shady
- Reproduction: sowing seeds under glass in February
Chamomile inflorescences of yellow, orange or brownish color on strong stems. These annuals are varieties or hybrids of Rudbeckia hairy (R. hirta) with a height of 30-90 cm. Dwarfs include ‘Becky’ and ‘Toto’; the giants are ‘Gloriosa Daisy’ and ‘Marmalade’. Watch out for slugs. Tall varieties require a garter.
SALPIGLOSSIS - SALPIGLOSSIS
- Bloom time: July - September
- Location: best sunny
- Reproduction: sowing seeds under glass in February
Exotic annual - velvet flowers are streaked with veins. The plant requires sun, sheltered location, and good soil.
Salpiglossis notched (S. sinuata) and its varieties are 30-75 cm high. The 'Casino' variety is compact and more resistant to adverse weather conditions than most.
SCHIZANTHUS - SCHIZANTHUS
- Bloom time: July - August
- Location: best sunny
- Reproduction: sowing seeds under glass in March
Each flower looks like a miniature orchid with veins or specks of various colors. These flowers appear in large quantities above the openwork foliage. Garden View - Pinnacle Schizanthus (S. pinnatus) 25-90 cm tall. Choose a compact variety such as 'Hit Parade' or 'Bouquet'.
TUNBERGIA - THUNBERGIA
- Bloom time: July - September
- Location: sunny
- Reproduction: sowing seeds under glass in March
Several species of this greenhouse plant can be grown as annuals in the garden. Showy flowers stand out above the leaves in the shape of an arrow. The only variety you are likely to find is the winged Thunbergia (T. alata) ‘Susie’ 1.2m tall with white, yellow or orange flowers
A secure place is important
PIZHMA, PYRETHRUM - TANACETUM
- Bloom time: July - September
- Location: best sunny
- Reproduction: sowing seeds under glass in February
Former names Chamomile (Matricaria) and Feverfew. The main species is Tansy maiden (T. parthenium or Matricaria eximia), in which flowers diameter 3 cm on stems 10-30 cm high. There are double (for example, ‘Snow Puffs’) or globular inflorescences of tiny flowers (‘Golden Ball’).
VERBENA - VERBENA
- Bloom time: July - October
- Location: best sunny
- Reproduction: purchase of seedlings or seedlings
This is a colorful flower bed plant blooming with small flowers with white eyes - Verbena hybrid (V. hybrida) 15-30 cm high, having inflorescences 5-8 cm in diameter.There are bushy erect varieties such as 'Novalis' and 'Romance', creeping, such as 'Imagination', and lianas such as 'Tapien'.
Perennial shade-loving and shade-tolerant plants for the garden
It is traditionally believed that flowers love the sun, so they either bloom poorly in the shade, or do not grow at all in such areas. At the same time, there is a difference between cultures that really feel comfortable only away from the sun's rays, and between those that simply can exist in such conditions:
- if in the shade the plant has lush greenery and a healthy, blooming appearance, it is shade-loving. In nature, such crops are located in the lower tiers of the forest, under the crowns of trees, therefore, they can be planted in the garden in the same place;
- if the plant blooms in the shade, but slightly worse than in the sun, this is a description of a shade-tolerant flower that adapts to the conditions.
For areas of varying degrees of shade, for example, such perennial crops are suitable:
Aquilegia. Another name for this flower is the catchment, because after dew, its cups are always full of water. The plant is best planted on fertile, moist soil, then it abundantly releases inflorescences of various shades, resembling stars. The catchment also grows in the sun, but its flowering in such conditions is worse than in partial shade. Every 3-4 years, aquilegia needs to be planted again, because it loses its decorative effect.
Aquilegia
Astilba. It differs in a variety of colors and a range of heights: dwarf varieties grow up to 30 cm, tall ones - up to 1.5 m.It is believed that astilbe can bloom profusely in one place for a maximum of 5 years, and then it needs a transplant. The inflorescences are collected in original panicles; in the sun they have a less bright shade than in partial shade. A shade-loving plant is planted in a slightly acidic, nutritious soil.It tolerates frosts well, but in the first year it needs shelter for the winter.
Astilba Council. If you correctly select the varieties of astilba, you can ensure flowering on the site from June to September.
Badan. There are up to 120 flowers in one inflorescence of this perennial plant. It winters well, keeping foliage in some cases during the cold season. In nature, there are 10 varieties of culture, and the name of one of them - thick-leaved badan - is well known to lovers of the healing Chigir tea, which is brewed from the leaves of this plant species. An unpretentious perennial will comfortably settle on moist, loosened and slightly alkaline soil.
Badan
Periwinkle. A creeping plant that tolerates both shade and drought well. In the spring, blue or purple flowers appear on it, less often - white or pink. It has medicinal properties, but periwinkle is dangerous when self-medicated.
Periwinkle
Brunner. A shade-loving plant in which everything is beautiful: both blue flowers and leaves with an interesting pattern. Thanks to this, it retains its decorative properties from the moment of flowering (late spring) to frost. Looks great when decorating borders, near water bodies. Prefers nutritious soils, but grows well on infertile soils.
Brunner
Tenacious. The name of the plant is, in fact, its own description, since a low-growing crop takes root well on any soil and requires watering only during times of severe drought. It blooms from late spring until about mid-June, but at the same time it is indispensable in areas where you need to quickly create a beautiful decorative carpet: it grows well, and even those who do not have gardening experience will succeed in growing a tenacious.
Tenacious
Kupena. A medicinal plant that looks spectacular in the shade. Its other names are "Solomon's seal" or "wolf berries", it looks beautiful in bouquets, in compositions in the photo, has a delicate aroma. Loves moist, fertile soil, on which in May-June it produces white flowers, and by the middle and end of summer, Kupen berries ripen
In handling requires caution, because it contains toxic substances
Kupena
Lily of the valley. A classic flower for growing in the light shade of trees and near fences. Needs abundant watering and protection from drafts, which can cause the lack of flowers. Lily of the valley does not like frequent transplants, multiplies and grows quickly, does not tolerate the proximity of other plants. Such a fragile-looking flower has a powerful root system. Blossoms in May-June, and sometimes, depending on the climate, at the end of April.
Lily of the valley
Host. The real queen of the shady garden. It does not bloom, but with its beautiful decorative leaves of various colors it will decorate any area. This unpretentious culture develops on any soil, grows in one place for up to 20 years, tolerates winter well.
Hosta
Plants and shade
Light-loving plants are known to thrive in areas that are lit most of the day. If the condition is not met, they begin to feel bad: they slow down growth, refuse to bloom, change the color of the leaves.
The rest of the plants are divided into shade-tolerant and shade-loving. In everyday life, the difference between them is usually not noticed, although it does exist. Shade-tolerant species include species that tolerate both the sun and light shading equally well; in some cases, the intensity of flowering may decrease. But shade-loving plants are called monogamous, for which the shadow is the only acceptable place of existence. They cannot stand long-term lighting; in sunny places they begin to hurt and dry.
Arrangement of a shady area
In fact, the quality of the shade differs in different places, and this must be taken into account when choosing a place for this or that variety. The owners of the plots, deciding which ornamental shrubs can be planted in the shade in the country, must figure out which type of shading the place of the future planting belongs to.
There are the following types of shady corners:
- Sparse (openwork) shadow. The deciduous cover of trees is never dense; sunlight makes its way between the leaves.
- Penumbra. The sun illuminates the area for three to four hours a day, usually in the morning or late afternoon.
- Shadow. In such an area, the sun is less than three hours a day, including morning, afternoon and evening hours. The rest of the time there is a dense shadow.
- Deep shadow. Areas where the sun's rays do not reach at all or appears for a very short time. An example would be the north side of a house or an area surrounded by a spruce forest.
In the lace shade
Do plants always need sun?
Plants, as well as all living organisms on the planet, need sunlight. Depending on the level of illumination, they are light-loving, shade-loving and indifferent to the shade. Many plants are able to adapt to changing conditions. However, such processes do not take place without a trace, the level of illumination changes the appearance. In the shade, many plants stop blooming, the leaves take on a darker shade of green, become more elongated or wider and thicker than in bright light.
But with excessive illumination, chlorophyll begins to break down, the leaf plates acquire a pale and even yellowish tint.
In addition, certain plants require sunlight for the formation and development of flower, vegetative and fruit buds. However, there are plants that require darkness to form buds.
From which side the sunlight falls, the leaves will stretch in that direction, from this side the plant will develop more actively.
What plants grow in the shade
First you need to figure out whether all shade-tolerant ornamental plants for the garden can grow in full shade. In this article, we will not be able to cover the entire list, but we will try to describe the most striking representatives of plants for shady places.
As already mentioned, there are many horticultural crops in nature that grow successfully in the shade. Among them there are those who prefer partial shade or even complete shade; there are plants growing successfully in the shade, but at the same time loving dry places, and there are moisture-loving plants. Whatever requirements perennial flowers and shrubs "expose" to gardeners, everyone will still be able to find their hero.
At the same time, we hasten to assure that plants with shade-tolerant properties can still delight you with their flowering. How to properly plant shade-loving plants and what shrubs can be planted in the shade - this will be discussed in the next section.
To begin with, it is worth saying that for the most part perennials are shade-loving shrubs that are often found in nature in forests. Therefore, such cultures can be content with a minimum of light without harm to themselves. But this does not mean that you can plant any plant on your site. Decide, for a start, which shrubs for the garden will feel comfortable in your climate. After that, decide on a place on your site.
There are practically no difficulties here - we plant sun-loving plants in a bright place, and shade-loving ones - under the shade of buildings or tall trees. If you do not want to risk the brightness of the color of the leaves or the splendor of the flowering, then it is better to heed this advice.
When choosing shade-loving perennials for the garden, take into account its overall picture. If you have only a couple of acres of land, then you should not decorate your territory with tall crops
Pay better attention to winter-hardy undersized shrubs that can ideally fit into your little cozy world.
A hedge can be formed from medium-sized shrubs that have a dense crown. These ornamental shrubs for a garden and a summer residence will attractively decorate your site. The juniper has been coping with this task for a long time and everywhere.
In addition to flowering shrubs, there are those that do not bloom as attractively as we would like, but at the same time have such amazing foliage (color, shape) that this more than compensates for the weak flowering.
Shrubs are the best help in garden zoning. With their help, it is easy to determine where the recreation area begins and ends, and where the vegetable garden. In addition, shrubs help define a path or shade planted sun-loving flowers. And fast-growing fruit trees or fruit bushes will bring double benefits - the harvest of fruits and berries.
The fact that shade-loving shrubs are slightly indifferent to the sun does not mean that they do not care what soil they will be planted in.
On the contrary, we urge you to pay special attention to this moment. A flower that grows in the shade in the country or fruit trees growing in the shade of a garden love moist, but at the same time drained soil
Naturally growing plants are accustomed to moist soil. On an area with dry sandy soil, you will need to consider additional watering. But don't overdo it. Most shade-loving plants have a thick root that grows not in depth, but in breadth, along the surface. Therefore, if you allow stagnant water or do not think over drainage, their roots will rot. To avoid this, add pebbles or broken bricks for drainage to the bottom of the planting pit.
The soil should be nutritious, but light, like under deciduous trees in forests. If the soil on your site is poor, then it doesn't matter - enrich it with compost or humus. Don't forget about acidity.
Shade-loving beautiful flowers are more delicate plants than garden trees or shrubs. About the features of care and types in the next section.
Conclusion
So, as you can see, there are a huge number of shade-loving shrub forms that will decorate your garden. Combining them with each other, diluting with other shade-loving plants, you can easily achieve the most amazing effect, turning your garden into a mysterious and exotic place. Any, the darkest corner, can be made a luxurious oasis with interesting and varied plants, both flowering and evergreen. The choice is only yours. Invent and create!
