Growing Tomatoes in the Shade
Although it’s not easy to grow a garden in the shade, tomato plants are fairly adaptable. Many varieties of tomatoes for shade gardens will produce quality fruit, but gardeners often experience smaller yields. Cultivating more plants can help overcome this obstacle. Higher rates of diseases can also be experienced when growing tomatoes in the shade. Trellising and pruning tomato plants increase air circulation. This helps dry moisture on the leaves and stems, which makes the foliage less inviting to disease. When gardening in the shade, tomato plants will produce the best crop if other growth requirements are optimized. Be sure to plant tomatoes in rich, fertile soil or supplement nutrients by fertilizing them at appropriate times. Water regularly if rainfall amounts are less than one inch (2.5 cm.) per week. Planting shade-tolerant tomato varieties is another strategy for coping with a shady garden site. Many gardeners find smaller-sized tomatoes produce quite proficiently in shady gardens. For gardeners wishing for larger-sized fruit, choosing varieties with shorter maturity dates may prove beneficial.
Shade Tolerant Tomato Varieties
Cherry, Grape, and Pear:
Black CherryEvans Purple PearGolden SweetIldi (Yellow)Isis Candy CherryJuliet Hybrid (Red)Principe Borghese (Red)Vernissage Yellow
Plum and Paste:
Mama Leone (Red)Redorta (Red)Roma (Red)San Marzano (Red)
Classic Round Tomatoes:
Arkansas Traveler (Deep Pink)Beauty Belize Pink Heart (Deep Pink)Carmello (Red)Early Wonder (Dark Pink)Golden SunrayGreen ZebraMarglobe (Red)Siberia (Red)Tigerella (Reddish-Orange with Yellowish-Green Stripes)Violet Jasper (Purple with Green Stripes)
Beefsteak Type Tomatoes:
Black KrimCherokee PurpleGold MedalHillbilly (Yellowish-orange with red streaks)Paul Robeson (Brick red to black)White Queen
