Top-tier fruit produce options thriving in low-light conditions:
Growing fruit in a shady spot? No worries, mate! Plenty of fruit-bearing bushes thrive well even in partial shade, especially during warm summers. For instance, gooseberries and blackcurrants are shrubs that grow great in the shade.
Learn more about different types of shade and how they impact your fruit crops. The harvest might be smaller and less sweet, but it'll still be delicious enough to make it worthwhile.
Cherries
Acid cherries, like 'Morello', are perfect for shady plots as they don't require sunlight to sweeten. Train them on a north-facing wall to showcase their spring blossom, glossy fruits, and autumn foliage. If you're short on space, cherries are available as dwarf fruit trees.
Gooseberries
This shrub is a breeze to grow and can tolerate various soil types and shade. Strong-growing culinary varieties like 'Invicta' and 'Greenfinch' perform well. Dessert varieties will crop in the shade but may be less sweet than in sun-soaked spots.
Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a good-looking, trouble-free crop for shady spots. Vigorous, early varieties like 'Timperley Early', 'Stockbridge Arrow', or 'Victoria' will fare best. Plant them in soil enriched with well-rotted manure.
Blackberries
Blackberries are the ideal soft fruit for shade. Train them against a wall or fence, and if you want bigger, earlier fruit, opt for thornless varieties like 'Loch Ness' or 'Helen'.
Blackcurrants
These plants are easy to grow and produce a heavy crop of glossy currants rich in vitamin C. They tolerate light shade and can be grown in the ground or in pots. 'Ben Connan' and 'Ben Hope' are good options.
If you're looking for fruit and veg options for your shady spot, check out our latest fruit and veg offers. With so many things you can grow, there's no excuse for not enjoying the taste of home-grown produce.
Other fruit crops that do well in partial shade include:
- Raspberries: Most raspberry varieties give a useful harvest in the shade and require minimal care. Try 'Malling Jewel', 'Autumn Bliss', 'Glen Magna', and 'Octavia'.
- Pears: Pears need some sun but will crop in partial shade. Early varieties like 'Beth' work well in west-facing spots, getting a few hours of sun in the afternoon.
- Redcurrants and Whitecurrants: Redcurrants will give a good crop even trained onto a north-facing wall. They're closely related to blackcurrants but can be grown like gooseberries in partial shade. 'Rovada' and 'White Grape' are good choices.
- Plums: Culinary varieties like 'Czar' are your best option for shade-tolerant plums and can be grown in spots that get morning sun and afternoon shade.
- Alpine strawberries: They are tougher than regular strawberries and flourish in shady conditions. 'Alexandria' is a good choice.
Expand your home-and-garden collection by including fruits that thrive in shade. Cherries like 'Morello', gooseberries, rhubarb, blackberries, and even certain varieties of raspberries, pears, redcurrants, whitecurrants, plums, and alpine strawberries can produce a bountiful harvest in your home-and-garden setup, making your lifestyle more self-sustaining and delicious.