What veggies, fruits or herbs could I grow in full shade and clay soil?



The place I am thinking of is clay soil, but has had evergreen-type leaves dropping onto it for a few years and then rotting down. It is in the shade of two large trees (although not under). I live in SW Britain, so there’s enough rain.

I want to plant something productive – either fruit, vegetables or herbs, as it is an extention to my kitchen garden. If you can’t come up with anything productive then feel free to say a flower or something.

TIA
I grow plenty of herbs, fruit and veg each year in my clay soil.

Perennials – raspberries, blackberries, thyme, mint, fennel, rosemary, lemon balm and so on.
Last year – pumpkins, tomatoes, chives, peas, runner beans.
This year – runner beans, carrots, peas, strawberries, tomatoes and other things I haven’t decided on yet.

All are doing / did fine with the exception of the chives that were pot grown in soil and then didn’t get watered.



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5 comments a “What veggies, fruits or herbs could I grow in full shade and clay soil?”

Veggies, fruits, and herbs want full sun. They can tollerate clay soil, but will not flourish — almost no plant likes clay.

Shade loving plants include; hosta, impatiens, ferns, begonias, lots. Here is a link:

I have the same situation, and there’s virtually nothing you can grow there that bears fruit or has flowers.

I’ve got English Ivy planted, and even with leaf mulch, I still have to fertilize heavily to see any growth on that.

i think the clay soil will be your real enemy here rather than the shade. still, i would give the following a try, they all like moist slightly shady positions and grow well in this way in my garden in scotland:

1. Spinach: does best in moister ground out of full sun (hot, dry location makes it bitter and run to seed quickly).Grow it as an annual.

2. Mint (esp. water mint, Mentha aqautica). Mine grows in the shade of a wall under a cotoneaster and flourishes year after year. Perennial

3. Sorrel: (Rumex acetosa). Arrow shaped green leaves with a pleasant acid tang, somewhat like rhubarb. use in salads or in soups. again, mine grows well in its moist shady setting and this is again one of those plants that will run to seed faster when grown in a sunny dry spot. Perennial and should keep you in salad leaves for almost the whole year.

4. Chives (Allium sp.)- can deal with sun or partial shade. Perennial

5. Monkshood- (Aconitum napellus). i know you said you wanted edible stuff but couldn’t resist throwing this in too. most definitely NOT edible (but very attractive), grows in moist woodlands and likes shade. handle with care as even the sap is toxic in small quantities (wear gloves!) but very pretty dark blue/purple flowers shaped like a monk’s cowl. Perennial.

Good luck with these, i’m sure there are many more.

Lettuce and other leafy greens are some of the only plants I know for sure that enjoy the shade. Most herbs would probably survive in the shade, too, but would grow slowly. The exception would be basil, I think. Try some mint and oregano. That stuff will grow anywhere.

Actually, clay soil got lots of nutrients, if you can make it drainable. Anyway, no veggies, fruit or herbs will do good in full shade. Sorry, but you should stick with some kind of shde loving plants, like hosta.

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