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Marketable shade-loving crop??
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Posted by chrisd_fl (My Page) on Sat, Jul 5, 08 at 16:10
| This season will be my first attempt at market gardening. I have a large shaded area on the N side of my house (approx 140 sf) that I would like to utilize to grow some type of marketable product. The area does not receive any direct sunlight but is not dark shade. I thought about growing ferns or other shade loving nursery plants but would rather grow some type edible items if possible. I've read that ginger can tolerate partial shade. Anyone have any ideas on a possible marketable crop that can be grown in this location? Herbs maybe? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Marketable shade-loving crop??
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| I grow ginger in my part sunny/bright shade area along with Turmeric. It is a good crop but the roots are so cheap in the grocery store and you only get one big harvest each year. You could set yourself up where you process it into stuff - dry ginger powder, candied ginger, etc. which would give you something to sell all year. I'm in Raleigh and my tubers don't grow all that fast. If you have really rich soil you might be able to get stronger growth. |
RE: Marketable shade-loving crop??
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| Mushrooms we grow shiitakes (on Logs) under the canopy of trees we have in our yard. They sell well and can be dried and be sold later if you have too many at once. |
RE: Marketable shade-loving crop??
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| Trianglejohn - Thanks for the ideas. Garliclady - I had actually considered shiitakes. Do you have any problems with insects/ants eating the mushrooms? How long did the spawn take to colonize the logs before fruiting? |
RE: Marketable shade-loving crop??
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| slugs are our worst pest. Spring inoculated logs should produce in the fall. |
RE: Marketable shade-loving crop??
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| I've seen photos of garliclady's mushrooms and have been inspired. I'm on the lookout for oak logs (not easily found here) so that I can get started. |
RE: Marketable shade-loving crop??
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| I'm pretty sure I can get all the oak logs I want for free. There's oak everywhere here in Central FL. Can I inoculate in the fall? |
RE: Marketable shade-loving crop??
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| No, you need to cut trees before the sap rises. So we cut logs in Feb or early march here. Shiitkes can be grown on other hardwoods we use some gum because the flushes are sooner and larger (but the wood rots faster than oak) You can use most hardwoods . In central Florida are your oaks live oaks. If they are don't they keep there leaves? Does the sap rise and fall? That may be a problem for you. |
RE: Marketable shade-loving crop??
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| You get a bigger yield if the sap rises first. you just have to leave the logs longer before inoculating, however the mycellium of shiitaki's will grow faster in the more sugar rich log and will make up for it, if you keep out the weed fungi. Be sure you get a warm weather strain for Florida cultivation, and good luck. |
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