Ideas for a shaded garden?

[foodinistar]

...Apart that is from mirrors, and movable mirrors at that, so that heat can be concentrated on specific areas.

Other than that, what edible produce could be grown in a longish but narrow (Edwardian semi-detached house-width) garden that has buildings and a high wall on the east, south and west sides?

[pumpy]

Sounds like you need to create a permanent polytunnel. From what you're saying, it sounds like your garden is fairly-well sheltered, but lacking in sun-shine; so a pt would seem to be the answer.

[foodinistar]

Thanks pumpy. How does the garden benefit with a polytunnel over just growing in the open air? As there is a solid north-facing wall on the south side, would a box-frame polytunnel work as a way of maximising available growing space?

[Annpan]

Personally I don't think a poly-tunnel would do you many favours... I mean, if light levels are low, a tunnel isn't going to stop that, increase heat maybe but most plants still need the sunlight.

I think most herbs are good in shady areas, strawberries might be OK.... maybe some other woodland plants.... but I am no expert on this.

How many hours of sunshine does your garden get?

[foodinistar]

It is not my garden and I've only seen it once in daylight, but that was at around 1pm and the garden was shaded by a short high wall which has to the left, the back of another building (two storeys plus sloping roof), and to the right, the back of a laundrette (one storey plus sloping roof). That is the lefthand side of the garden. At the end of the garden is the side of another two storey building plus roof.

The house is very close to a T junction, which explains all the buildings!

The garden is currently like a building site, and the owner is open to all ideas.

[MuddyWitch]

Make yourself some jam butties & a flask of coffee, grab a paperback & try & spend a whole day there, noting the sunny spots at various times of day.

Putting some of the rubble to use building raised beds would save the need for the paperback & raise the plants off any contamination in the soil & up a bit, which could make a difference to their light levels.

If you could manage some piccies or a diagram we might be able to help you in more detail.

MW

[Millymollymandy]

You might find there is more sun hitting the garden in mid summer than there is right now, when the sun is higher. Best thing is for the owner to observe at different times of the day and note the places where the sun touches the ground.

[shell]

I was looking at a gardening programme the other day and they had a wall garden,basically fit was a frame just like an old bookcase, filled with compost etc,covered with netting,stapled on to the frame,and planted up with herbs,i suppose you could also cover with plastic ground cover and plant though it too with plants of your liking,they then stood it up against the wall,drilled it in,it looked great,so much so i`m going tro try and get hubby to make up some frames so i can hide the hideous wall built by my neighbour,you could go to the tip and find old bookcases too,not many round here but if i lived in the uk that would be my first stop,
just a though

[ajs88]

redcurrant and gooseberry bushes do very well and blackberry bushes do ok in shaded areas, including a cold wall

[foodinistar]

Thanks for all your inputs. I'll pass the ideas on.

Essentially: think of the garden as a woodland clearing.

I'll see if I can get some photos, or even a video.