Just outside our main door, the bed up against the trailer faces west toward a stand of trees and barely gets any direct sun. I could have put flowers there, but I wanted to set out edibles. But what enjoys nearly full shade?

Herbs are a great choice for this kind of situation since they often get too strong-flavored/bitter under the peak summer sun. Both the mint and the basil in this bed grow slower than their compatriots in the main garden, but they taste a lot better at this time of year too.

An ultra-early lettuce bed is another good solution. In fact, my mid-July planting is doing so well, I'm thinking of setting out some spinach seeds while the ground is still wet and cool.

How about you? What edibles have you installed in shady locations in your garden with good results?