Growing Instructions for Low-Light Fruits & Vegetables

Overview

Potential gardeners who have only low-light areas to grow fruits and vegetables need not feel it is a hopeless cause. Many berry fruits, like blueberries, raspberries, currants and gooseberries, can grow and produce fruit in low-light environments. Vegetables, particularly leafy and root vegetables, do well in low light, though they may not have as large of leaves or roots as vegetables that receive more light. When choosing vegetables for your low-light garden areas, you will be more successful if you do not select vegetables that produce fruit from blossoms, like tomatoes, peppers, squash and beans, but instead choose leafy vegetables.

Step 1

Prune lower branches off trees and bushes that are growing over the area you intend to plant your vegetables and berry fruits. By pruning, or cutting, the lower branches you will be opening up the shade canopy above your garden and help create better air circulation. More air circulation will decrease the development of fungus and diseases on your berry and vegetable plants.

Step 2

Add organic compost and matter to the soil, using a shovel or rototiller, that will supplement your low-light garden. Extra nutrients are needed for your garden because surrounding trees and bushes will be competing with your plants for nutrition from the soil. The addition of compost and organic matter will also improve the soil drainage.

Step 3

Plant your vegetables and fruit berries as your would in a high-light area, and according to the planting directions for the plant type.

Step 4

Water your low-light garden when the top inch or two of soil feels dry. Your low-light vegetable and fruit garden may retain moisture in the soil longer than sunlit gardens, or your garden may become drier quicker because the natural rains cannot reach the soil through the tree branches above the garden. Only by checking and monitoring your soil will you know when to water your vegetables and fruit.

Step 5

Fertilize your vegetables and berry fruits with a fertilizer formulated for the particular varieties you are growing. Follow the directions on the label. Again, your vegetables and fruit will need additional nutrition because of competition for food with the trees that shade the area.