Shade garden question

[sissy]

Hubby built me a raised bed around a large tree in front yard. I put lilies & iris close around the tree. I was thinking of putting veggies in the four corners. It gets some filtered sun. What would you suggest? We're in zone 7. Thanks for any ideas.
sissy

[NCLee]

Cool season crops come to mind. Those that can't take the full summer sun may do OK there, depending on how dense the shade is, especially in the afternoon.

You might try some salad greens, for example. Also, might be a good place for some herbs. Creeping thyme comes to mind. You'll have to experiment, as your tree is a micro-climate with it's own set of growing conditions.

BTW, it'll be better for your beds if you plant perennials rather than annuals. Most trees have very shallow feeder roots. Every time you dig, you'll damage some of those roots.

Oh, one other thing, I hope the added soil for your bed isn't very deep. If it's over 3-4" or so, it can smother the tree's feeder roots. Oh, and be sure to keep the soil & mulch pulled away from the trunk of the tree. Too much, too high can rot the bark at the base of the tree, allowing insects and rot to start taking a toll on the tree, too.

Depends on the tree and how the roots for that particular variety of tree grow, as to how much soil overburden it can take and not have problems.

Hope this helps, a bit.
Lee

[bookwormom]

Sweet woodruff should do fine, Thyme likes it on the sunny side. salad greens, I'd try some herbs like parsley and dill around the edge. Depends also how dense the tree is.

[sissy]

Thanks ya'll. The tree is a pin oak & is pretty huge 2 1/2 to 3 foot wide & 30 to 40 foot tall. The bed is 8 ft by 8 ft. Soil around trunk is 3 to 4 in deep, & at the outside edge is 7 or 8 in deep. Hubby will trim lower limbs. It will get some morning & evening sun & filtered through the day. I was thinking spinach in one corner, Brussels sprouts in one corner, lettuce in one corner, & something else in the last corner. What do you all think? Thanks for your input.
sissy

[cartershan]

You could try Swiss Chard. We have some in a shade bed that gets barely some filtered sun in the early morning and late afternoon. We planted it mainly the the foliage and color, but we've ended up eating quite a bit as well!! I think its rainbow or bright lights that have such great color to them. Shannon

[sissy]

Thanks cartershan, I may try it. What does it taste like? I've never had any. I do like spinach, I may try some of that there also. We usually have hot summers here.
sissy

[cartershan]

We are in zone 7 and have VERY hot summers here as well. Swiss CHard is kindof like spinach in texture. You can eat it on a sandwich, salad or even can it like a green from what I understand. I have not cooked it like a green though, but I understand that you can. It has large leaves and kindof grows like Romaine lettuce. Its a very pretty plant. The stems are bright red, orange, yellow and green. Deeply veined with lots of red and orange. The co-op here had seed for the Bright light variety when I was there on Friday.
Hope it works out well for you. Shannon

[sissy]

Thanks again cartershan, for the info. I am going to try to find some around here.
sissy