Part Shade Enclosed Gardening

Question

We back up to a wooded ravine with tall cottonwood trees. There are deer, rabbits, birds, squirrels. We made an enclosed garden space to keep the animals out. The area gets decent sun in the morning and evening, and dappled sun in the afternoon. We’ve tried tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers with minimal luck. Onions, carrots, radishes and beets from seed with no luck at all. They sprout but don’t get bigger than an inch or two tall. The only thing that has done quite well is parsley. What are we doing wrong?

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Answer 1

It probably isn't getting enough sun. Fruiting veggies need 8 to 10 hours of full sun a day. The evening sun would be negligible. So it's really only getting morning sun and the screening may be acting like a shade cloth. Usually the holes in screens are larger. Consider getting a soil test to be sure there is nothing lacking in fertility or pH. The article below lists some vegetables that can take less sun. It does list onion, carrots, radishes and beets, though. Be certain you are planting at the right time. You are in zone 5a. I've included an article that tells when to plant in your zone. Click on the vegetable name for information on how to grow that vegetable.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/shade/edible-shade-plants.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/gardening-by-zone/zone-5/zone-5-vegetable-gardens.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-soil.htm