Advice for Gardening in Small Shaded Areas

When you’re growing in a small space like a balcony or tiny backyard, getting adequate sunlight can be an issue. It’s certainly not impossible though if you know how to approach it!

Follow the tips below to grow a garden that thrives in the shade.

• Choose the right plants: Not all plants can thrive in shaded areas, so it’s important to choose the best shade plants for the best results. Some container garden plants that are shade-tolerant are leafy greens, such as collards, kale, and swiss chard, and root veggies, like beets and radishes. Some herbs like mint, parsley, and cilantro also tolerate some shade.

• Make the most of the sunlight: When growing fruits and veggies in a shadier area, it’s important to not take any drop of sunlight for granted. Even in a shaded area, there may be pockets of sunlight that can be used to grow sun-loving plants like tomatoes, peppers, or cucumbers. Harvi’s portable and stackable nature make it easy to follow and catch the sunlight throughout the day. Pay attention to peak sunlight times as well, which fall between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Use reflective surfaces: Reflective surfaces, like white stones or light-colored mulch, can help to reflect sunlight and brighten up the garden. Other than reflecting light and increasing photosynthesis, reflective mulch can be a beneficial aspect to your garden because it has been proven to be effective for managing certain pests and virus transmissions. Even if your plants aren’t receiving direct sunlight, these alternatives can help provide your vegetables with the sunbeams they need to thrive.

• Embrace vertical gardening: Vertical container gardening is a great way to maximize space in a shaded area. Thanks to Harvi’s stackable garden beds, you can stack up to three beds on top of each other to plant more veggies in limited space. Also, incorporating a DIY trellis to reach towards the sky and soak up more sunlight can be a stylish and functional shade garden idea.

• Add lighting: If your garden area is completely dark, adding additional lighting can help plants grow. Choose full-spectrum grow lights that mimic natural sunlight and set them on a timer to provide the right amount of light for the plants.

• Water regularly: Plants in a shaded area may not require as much water as those in full sun, but they still need to be watered regularly. Harvi’s self-watering can store up to 2 weeks of water, helping you stay on top of your watering schedule.

Harvi hopes that no matter how shady or sunny your growing area is, you give gardening a shot. We hope these small, shaded garden ideas will inspire you to keep growing, reconnect with nature, and get back to your roots, even when the sun’s tucked away behind the clouds. 

Happy growing!