How to Grow Vegetables Near Eucalyptus Shade

When spring rolls around, one of the first things gardeners think of is starting a vegetable garden and reviving plants that have been dormant all winter. For anyone who's had a vegetable garden in the past, this is a simple matter of restarting the established garden. For those new to gardening, though, it means choosing a site, preparing the bed, choosing the vegetables and planning the layout. If you have restricted space for a new garden, and find that some of it falls under a eucalyptus tree, plant vegetables that do well in shade.

• 1

  Measure out your garden site so you know your borders. Keep out of the shade as much as possible, since most vegetables require full sun for at least eight hours a day. Check the site's drainage, as vegetables also require complete drainage around their roots. Avoid areas with slow drainage after rain or watering.

• 2

  Amend the soil in your site with a mixture of half quick-draining soil and half organic compost. Mix the amendment into the top 4 inches of natural soil to give the vegetables rich nutrition and good drainage. If you're planting in a site that puddles, and don't have a way around it, build the amendment up to a height of 6 to 8 inches above soil level, to give your vegetables a raised bed and ensure good drainage. Mix 10-10-10 fertilizer into the top inch of soil after you're finished.

• 3

  Plant vegetable seedlings according to their depth and spacing needs. Plant tall plants that require full sun like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, corn, squash and beans on the sunny side of the garden, where they'll get the warmth and sun they require. Plant smaller, leafier vegetables like lettuce, spinach, broccoli, radishes, beets and turnips on the shady side of the garden, as these plants will grow in partial shade and may enjoy the cooler temperatures there. Eucalyptus trees are tall, with relatively sparse foliage, and won't provide complete shade. Their dappled shade won't restrict leafy vegetables.

• 4

  Water the garden with 2 inches of water and spread 2 inches of mulch over the soil on the shady side of the garden. The mulch will help gather and maintain warmth from the sun, to nurture the shaded plants. Maintain the garden with 2 inches of water every week and a mid-season fertilizer application. Water the eucalyptus trees separately. Eucalyptus don't have extensive roots systems, and won't infringe on the vegetable garden in regard to root area or water needs.

• 5

  Use the seeds and leaves of the eucalyptus trees as continued mulch for your vegetable garden. These trees drop many leaves and twigs, and have peeling bark, so they provide natural mulch. Walk the vegetable garden once a week to move droppings from on top of vegetable plants, as they may provide too much shade or restrict air circulation. Scrape the eucalyptus matter onto the soil, and allow it to break down naturally and provide compost and mulch.