10 tips for growing veg in shade

That's not always possible, however, as the sunnniest spot is often also the best place for a greenhouse, sun-loving perennials, a cut flower patch and a seating area.

If you have no choice but to grow your veg in shade, there are plenty of ways you can help make up for limited sunlight on the veg plot.

Although a sunny spot is ideal for most vegetables, some, including beetroot, radish and salad leaves, will grow in shade. For some crops, such as salad, protection from summer heat can be a positive advantage. Discover the 10 best vegetable crops for shade.

Sow seeds in a sunny spot, to get them off to the best start, then transplant to a shadier area once they have established a good root system. Alternatively sow on a bright windowsill.

Choose crops that can be grown up supports and into the light, such as runner beans, French beans and courgette 'Tromboncino' - this needs sun but can be trained up a frame so that the fruit can ripen in the warm light.

Grow annual flowers, such as cornflowers and borage, among veg to lure pollinating and beneficial insects - there will be fewer of these in shade.

Plant slightly away from the base of walls, where shade is most dense and the soil is often poor and dry. Add plenty of well-rotted garden compost or animal manure to help the soil retain water, improve its structure and encourage plants to establish.

Give plants space by thinning out seedlings and don't overcrowd beds. Poor air circulation can encourage problems such as botrytis and mildews, and shady places can be damp, perfect for fungal diseases to thrive.

Protect plants against slugs and snails, which love damp shade. Place cloches or gritty compost around young plants and use all the traps and deterrents you can, from beer traps to copper tape on pots.

Maximise available light by creating reflective surfaces around your growing space. Paint walls and fences white, or attach mirrors or boards covered in aluminium foil to bounce light around.

Build raised beds or grow in containers to lift plants up and out of the densest shade. Grow crops in light plastic or fibreglass pots so they can be moved to the sun to help them fruit and ripen.

Don't overplant beds and containers. Give crops plenty of space to allow as much light to get to each plant as possible.