Plant Guru Arthur Lee Jacobson's List of Vegetables To Grow in the Shade

Happy Boxing Day...and in the hopes you might have a minute over the next week or so to dive into a few seed catalogs, here's some thoughts from Arthur Lee Jacobson on what vegetables are worth growing in shady conditions.

Arthur Lee is the real thing - a bonafide plant fanatic, a character, a tree worshipper and warm-hearted guy willing to share his expertise. I have a story coming out soon in Pacific Northwest magazine (the Seattle Times) about a heritage tree tour Arthur treated me to this autumn.... but until then, here's a peek at what he's up to.

Arthur gardens in the Montlake neighborhood, beneath (you guessed it) plenty of trees. (Read my Seattle Times' story about his garden here.)

Despite his sloping, shady old garden, Arthur is undaunted at the thought of growing vegetables. He's busy removing ornamentals to make way for a kitchen garden in pots and in the ground. Arthur's best advice for gardeners who want to grow food in the shade? Potatoes!  His latest newsletter details all the edibles he's growing in less-than-sunny conditons; you can download a pdf of the newsletter on his webpage.

Here's an excerpt from his list of 80 different herbs and vegetables that can tolerate, or even prefer, shady sites.....

Arugula / Rocket (Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa)
Annual. Reseeds easily. Piquant leaves and flowers.

Cress, Winter / Yellow Rocket (Barbarea vulgaris) European perennial. Some of its kin need more light.

Bean, Bush (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Some pole beans can climb high to reach sunlight.

Bean, Fava or Broad (Vicia Faba)
Cool-season annual. Leaves, flowers & beans edible.

Endive (Cichorium Endiva)
Varied forms include curly endive (fraisé / frisée), escarole and endive proper. Related to Radicchio.

Bok Choy / Pak Choi 白菜 (Brassica Rapa var. chinensis) Related Asian greens can also grow in low sun levels.

Garlic, Bear / Ramsons (Allium ursinum)
Needs shade; a woodland garlic; lovely white flowers.

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea)
Much better yield if lime and manure are abundant.

Brussels Sprouts (Brassica oleracea)
Much better yield if lime and manure are abundant.

Celeriac / Turnip-rooted Celery

Chard / Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla)

Chives (Allium Shœnoprasum)
Familiar miniature onion cousin. Perennial; best if divided every few years. Leaves, flowers, eaten raw.

Horseradish / Red Cole (Armoracia rusticana)
Leaves edible as well as the perennial roots, grated.

Kale (Brassica oleracea)
Best winter greens for Seattle. Much better yield if lime and manure are abundant. Many diverse kinds.

Kohlrabi / Cabbage or Stem Turnip (Brassica oleracea) Besides the swollen part, the leaves edible like Kale.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum)
Best grown in containers that can be moved about, and make harvesting easier.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Annual. It would be ideal to learn what cultivars are best suited to low light. Sow several kinds.

Radicchio (Cichorium Intybus)....

If you go to Arthur's website you can sign up for his electronic newsletter and stay up to date on his research, which is focusing these days on edible houseplants....

Comments

[Shannon Borg]

HI Valerie!

I didn't see where I could just email you - but I wanted to write and introduce myself - My name is Shannon Borg, and I'm the new marketing coordinator for Doe Bay Resort ( I also write for Seattle magazine, and have a book called Chefs on the Farm, about Quillisascut Farm School). Maureen Brotherton (the owner) passed on your name. I'd love to send you some updated information about Doe Bay - but also just invite you out to Orcas Island to see how our island garden is coming along! We are growing more and more food all the time for use in the fabulous Doe Bay Cafe! Anyway, feel free to respond to me at marketing@doebay.com - if you wish.

I love your blog!

best,
shannon

[Mike Borlovan]

Hello Valerie,

I like Lee's idea of growing herbs and vegetables in shady sites. There is quite a long list of herbs and veggies that can tolerate the shade.
I also like to grow herbs and vegetables in containers.

Your blog is simply beautiful! I like it very much!

Thanks Valerie,

Mike