edible crops in the shade?

Question

I have a huge backyard with a lot of woods. There are bare spaces. It does not get a lot of sunlite. I would like to grow something there I could eat. Chives? Garlic? Mushrooms? Whatever does not require a lot of sun. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Leafy crops are most tolerant of partial and dappled shade. In hot areas, it's actually preferable to grow them where they don't receive full sun all day, since they'll hold longer before they bolt and taste bitter. A garden grown in a partial or half shaded plot can contain lettuce of all kinds, chard, scallions, kale, radishes, Asian stir-fry greens, spinach, and leeks. Herbs include arugula, basil, parsley, dill, chervil, cilantro, chives, garlic chives, watercress, and alpine strawberries.
http://www.reneesgarden.com/articles/shade.html

The following is a list of vegetables of partial shade-tolerant vegetables. While productions may be greater in the sun, these plants will produce an edible crop when grown in a shady location. However, remember that nothing will grow in complete shade. Plants will need some morning, evening or filtered sun; a total of two to six hours of direct sun is the minimum.
Arugala Rhubarb Beans Rutabagas Beets Salad Burnet Broccoli Salsify Brussels sprouts Sorrel cabbage Spinach Cauliflower Summer Squash Celery Turnips Cress Endive HERBS Garlic Angelica Kale Borage Kohlrabi Caraway Leaf Lettuce Chervil Leeks Coriander Parsley Lemon Balm Parsnips Lovage Peas Mint Potatoes Tarrgon Pumpkins Thyme Radish.
http://www.oldhouseweb.com/gardening/Detailed/686.shtml

Here's an article on "Edible Forest Gardens":
http://www.nofa.org/tnf/sp02/supplement/edible.php
Mushrooms, Garlic & Chives are a great start.
Good luck! Hope this helps.

Answer 2

You could try huckleberries. They grow as an understory shrub and make yummy pie.

Mushrooms are possible, but not something I want to put time into. Maybe really easy if you get innoculated plugs.

Many perennial foods like garlic, onions and such will continue to grow in the shade. They just take longer than if they grew in the full sun...

I would say try whatever you can an see how they do.

Good luck, and remember a healty soil is capable of growing things where they would not normally grow.