Gardening in the Woods: 18 Edible Crops You Can Grow

As most vegetables and fruit require a bright sun to grow, you may be limited in the plants you can keep if you have a wooded property. However, there are a number of edible plants that thrive even under a canopy of leaves and still produce an impressive crop of food.

A mushroom grows from an old log — Shaded and woody lots can still grow food. Read more about how and what to grow on wooded lots.

In their book Farming the Woods, authors Ken Mudge and Steve Gabriel provide a thorough plan for how to grow a wide range of food products on a fully forested lot. For complete garden plans and tips, you may want to pick up a copy of their book. But if you’re just looking for a bit of gardening inspiration, this guide will introduce you to some of the best food crops that you can grow under a full canopy of trees.

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18 edible crops you can grow on wooded lots

Food crops grow on wet, wooded lots — Not only *can* you grow food on wooded lots, but some of the crops that thrive here can be quite valuable.

From adaptable herbs to deep shade-loving plants, like wasabi and ginseng, there are plenty of food crops that you can grow on forested lots. Below are some of our favorite plants to grow in the shade, as well as some planting tips to ensure your forest garden is a success.

1. Mushrooms

Mushrooms grown from plugs on a log — Mushrooms are one of the best crops to grow on wooded lots. It's basically their natural, preferred habitat.

Plant name:	Mushrooms
Lighting requirements:	Shade
Watering requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Depends on variety
Where to buy:	Amazon; North Spore

Indoor mushroom growing kits are very popular today, but if you have an outdoor growing space, you can take your mushroom hobby outdoors. Many tasty mushroom types can be grown with mushroom plugs, which are placed inside holes drilled into tree logs. Mushrooms like oyster mushrooms, shiitake, lion’s mane, and Reishi can all be grown in this manner.

To grow mushrooms outdoors, holes are drilled into natural logs with a power drill, and then “plugs” inoculated with mushroom spores are then inserted into the drilled holes. After that, the holes are sealed up with natural wax and then kept moist until the mushrooms begin to grow. Unlike plants, mushrooms don’t need light to mature and can be kept in even very shaded, wooded lots.

2. Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)

Pawpaw fruit growing in a shady wood lot — Pawpaw fruit is not available commercially, so it can be a crop with monetary value, too.

Plant name:	Pawpaw
Lighting requirements:	Full sun to shade
Watering requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 5 to 8
Where to buy:	Amazon; Arbor Day Foundation

Pawpaw fruit isn’t usually sold at grocery stores, so if you want to try it, you’ll probably need to grow your own. The good news is that pawpaw trees are easygoing and can grow in part shade, so they are suitable for forest gardening.

Pawpaws are cold hardy plants and can grow in areas as chilly as zone 5. Mature trees grow to about 30’ in height and start producing fruit in August to October. Pawpaw fruit is sweet and creamy, with hints of vanilla and banana, and its flavor is sometimes likened to Boston cream pie.

3. Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.)

Fresh ripe blueberries covered in dew — Blueberries will grow in either full sun or partial shade. It is common to find them growing wild as an understory crop in filtered light.

Plant name:	Blueberries
Lighting requirements:	Full sun to part shade
Watering requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 3 to 8
Where to buy:	Amazon; Gurney’s

There are lots of different blueberry cultivars to choose from, including highbush and lowbush blueberries. Highbush blueberries grow taller and produce more fruit, while lowbush blueberries are small shrubs with a smaller harvest of sweeter and darker berries. Both varieties can tolerate part shade, although they produce more fruit in full sun.

Blueberries grow best in slightly acidic, sandy soil, so you may want to adjust your soil pH prior to planting with a soil acidifier. You’ll need to be patient when growing blueberries as they usually won’t begin to fruit until their third year. When mature enough, blueberries fruit in summer, from June to August.

4. Wasabi (Eutrema japonicum)

Green leafed wasabi grown in a forest area — Wasabi cannot tolerate sun, so it must be grown in shady, wet areas.

Plant name:	Wasabi
Lighting requirements:	Shade
Watering requirements:	High
Growing zone:	Zones 8 to 10
Where to buy:	Amazon; The Wasabi Store

If you love eating sushi, you’re probably pretty familiar with wasabi paste – that spicy, green condiment that is used to add a bit more heat. However, most of the wasabi that you’ll encounter at restaurants and grocery stores is actually horseradish root blended with green dye and isn’t wasabi at all.

True wasabi can be difficult to grow and doesn’t have a long shelf life, making it difficult to serve at restaurants, but you can grow it in forested lots. That’s because wasabi does not tolerate bright sun and needs to be grown under a forest canopy or shade cloth. Additionally, in nature, wasabi may grow along streambanks, but it is not an aquatic plant and requires moist, not soggy soil.

5. Hazelnuts (Corylus spp.)

Hazelnuts dropped on the ground — Hazelnuts are one of the only nut trees that can grow in partial shade, so it's perfect for a forested lot.

Plant name:	Hazelnuts
Lighting requirements:	Full sun to part shade
Watering requirements:	High to moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 4 to 9
Where to buy:	Amazon; Arbor Day Foundation

Also known as filberts, hazelnuts are larger than many of the other plants on this list, so they aren’t appropriate for all forest gardens. But they are quite compact trees and can work in smaller spaces if you have enough room for them. When fully mature, hazelnut trees grow to between 8 and 20’ high and 15’ wide.

Hazelnuts are known for their sweet and creamy meat that is excellent in candies and desserts. When properly maintained, trees can be quite prolific and produce about 7 pounds of hazelnuts each! Unlike most nut trees, hazelnuts can grow in part shade, making them a good choice for forest gardening.

6. Leafy Greens

Leafy greens grow below shady trees — You can extend your fresh, leafy greens season by growing them in a spot with some shade. This helps overcome summer bolting.

Plant name:	Leafy Greens
Lighting requirements:	Full sun to part shade
Watering requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Depends on species
Where to buy:	Amazon; Fedco Seeds

Most vegetables need bright sun to grow properly and aren’t appropriate for wooded lots, but leafy greens can be the exception. Some greens, like spinach, certain lettuces, sorrel, kale, collard greens, and more, tend to bolt in high heat and bright sun. But you can slow down the bolting process by sowing these greens in part shade.

Fully shaded, wooded lots won’t usually get enough light to support healthy, leafy green growth, but if you have an area of your property with the dappled sun, it might just work. Because these plants grow best in rich, well-draining soil, consider sowing your seeds in pots if your soil has lots of tree roots or is heavily compacted.

7. Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)

A basket of newly harvested sunchokes — Jerusalem artichokes will grow in partial shade--and they are perennials.

Plant name:	Jerusalem Artichoke
Lighting requirements:	Full sun to part shade
Watering requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 3 to 8
Where to buy:	Amazon; Territorial Seed Company

Also known as sunchokes, Jerusalem artichokes are members of the sunflower family and are native to eastern North America. A very easy-to-grow plant, sunchokes are mostly cultivated for their tubers that look a lot like potatoes and have a sweet and nutty flavor. Plants grow to about 10’ high and bloom pretty, sunflower-like flowers that make wonderful cut flowers too.

While sunchokes prefer bright sun, they can also be grown in part shade, making them a good choice for wooded properties. Plants are cold hardy, and perennial, but they can become invasive in some areas. For this reason, some gardeners choose to grow these plants in pots or grow bags to keep them from spreading.

8. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)

A woman holds bunches of elderberries — Moist habitats on the edge of forests are a common place to find wild elderberries growing.

Plant name:	Elderberry
Lighting requirements:	Full sun to part shade
Watering requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 3 to 7
Where to buy:	Amazon; Fedco Trees

Elderberries have become very popular among gardeners in recent years, as their berries make exceptional syrups and other goods. There are a number of different elderberry varieties, and some are favored for their ornamental foliage, while others are known to be prolific berry producers. Whichever elderberry you choose, these utilitarian plants can be rewarding to grow, even on shady properties.

While elderberries prefer full sun, they can be grown in part shade, although they may produce fewer berries. Elderberries produce foamy white flowers in spring, which mature into berries in summer. The flowers are edible, too, and make lovely teas when dried. You may want to protect your berries with fruit protection bags, as birds love to eat them!

9. Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

Sap buckets hang on maple trees in winter — Maple trees are a sensible choice for a wooded lot, and from them you can make your own syrup and maple sugar.

Plant name:	Sugar Maple
Lighting requirements:	Full sun to part shade
Watering requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 4 to 8
Where to buy:	Amazon; Fedco Trees

There’s nothing better than pancakes, and maple syrup served piping hot on your breakfast plate. But have you ever thought about making your own maple syrup from scratch?

If you have a wooded property, you may already have sugar maples growing on it, but you can also certainly plant your own! Sap from maple trees is collected in early spring, generally in February or March, and then cooked down to create a syrup. Conveniently, many of the supplies you need to start making your own syrup can be ordered online!

10. Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)

A basket full of harvested stinging nettle — It's almost hard *not* to grow stinging nettle. Fortunately, it has good culinary uses.

Plant name:	Stinging Nettle
Lighting requirements:	Full sun to part shade
Watering requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 4 to 10
Where to buy:	Amazon; Strictly Medicinal Seeds

Stinging nettle is notorious for its fiery stings that can leave you with a nasty rash if you come in contact with the tiny hairs on plant stems and leaves. Nettle is also a vigorously growing plant, rapidly self-seeds, and can be invasive in some areas. For this reason, if you want to grow this plant, it’s advised to keep it in pots and deadhead any seeds to prevent it from becoming unmanageable.

But despite its reputation, stinging nettle is a useful and tasty plant to have. It has been prized as a medicinal plant for centuries, but leaves can also be cooked and eaten like any leafy green. Somewhat drought tolerant once established, stinging nettle can grow in part shade as well as full sun.

11. Raspberries (Rubus idaeus)

Red raspberries hanging on a plant — All types of raspberries can be grown in partial shade.

Plant name:	Raspberries
Lighting requirements:	Full sun to part shade
Watering requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 3 to 10
Where to buy:	Amazon; Fedco Trees

Both black and red raspberries are excellent plants for forest gardens as they are easy to grow, require minimal maintenance, and can handle part shade. These plants form canes that produce fruit; however, most raspberry varieties only fruit on second-year canes. This is important to remember as you don’t want to cut all your canes down in the autumn because fruit won’t develop on new growth.

Raspberries can be eaten straight from your garden, or you can cook them into pies and other desserts. The leaves are also edible and can be brewed into a mildly flavored tea. Because raspberry canes tend to spread, many gardeners opt to trellis these plants to keep them more compact.

12. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Ginger grown in a grow bag — Though a semi-tropical plant, ginger does not particularly like full sun.

Plant name:	Ginger
Lighting requirements:	Part shade
Watering requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 9 and above; kept as an annual or overwintered indoors in cooler locations
Where to buy:	Amazon; Fruition Seeds

Despite their tropical look and feel, ginger plants don’t actually like a bright sun that much, and they grow better in part shade. This is especially true in hot locations, where ginger may suffer from sunburn or stunted growth in extreme heat. Growing ginger in pots in your forest garden can produce a large harvest, just as long as your plants receive some part sun.

Ginger plants are naturally found in warmer locations, so if you live in a cold area, you may want to start your ginger indoors in early spring to give it a jumpstart on the growing season. Beyond that, ginger is a relatively easy plant to keep, and it can even be grown from ginger you purchase at the grocery store.

13. Currants (Ribes spp.)

Ripening red currants hanging in clusters — Currants are one of those nearly forgotten foods that are enjoying a resurgence.

Plant name:	Currants
Lighting requirements:	Full sun to part shade
Watering requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 3 to 8
Where to buy:	Amazon; Gurney’s

Currants may be less commonly grown today, but they have been very popular fruiting plants in previous generations, and they are gaining popularity again. These gorgeous plants produce clusters of bright red berries in June and July that are delightful in pies and other desserts. Currants have a sweet and sour flavor and a crisp bite that makes them fun snacking foods!

Currants naturally grow as understory shrubs in the forest, so they are accustomed to shade. When mature, these plants grow between 3 and 6’ tall and begin producing fruit sometime between their first and third year. Currants grow best in rich, well-draining soil and will benefit from some compost mixed into their soil at the time of planting.

14. Ramps (Allium tricoccum)

Wild ramps growing in a wooded area — Overharvesting is threatening many wild ramps plots, so cultivating your own can help to save this woodland favorite.

Plant name:	Ramps
Lighting requirements:	Shade
Watering requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 3 to 7
Where to buy:	Amazon; Wild West Virginia Ramps

Also known as wild leeks, ramps are native to the eastern United States and have a flavor that is somewhere between garlic and green onions. Delicious fried, sauteed, or blended into pestos, ramps were once primarily foraged from the wild, but they can now be purchased by home growers. These plants have a short harvesting window in spring, and then plants die back and remain dormant until the following year.

Cold hardy ramps can grow in zones 4 to 7, and they also prefer shady spots, making them ideal for forest gardens. When growing these plants, try to imitate their natural growing environment as much as possible. They prefer to grow in moist, well-draining soil underneath deciduous trees and grow best in earth enriched with compost or other organic matter.

15. American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)

American ginseng growing in the woods — American ginseng is endangered in the United States, so, again, you can help preserve a native crop by cultivating it.

Plant name:	American Ginseng
Lighting requirements:	Shade
Watering requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 3 to 7
Where to buy:	Amazon; Strictly Medicinal Seeds

Ginseng used to be harvested from the wild, but the methods employed in the harvesting process were very destructive, and wild American ginseng is now classified as endangered in the United States. However, plants can be grown at home from seeds or seedlings starts, which is easier on you and much better for the environment!

Ginseng has been used in alternative medicine for centuries, but it also makes a fine herbal tea and comforting soup. Hardy to zone 3, ginseng can be grown in cooler locations, but it needs a fair amount of shade to develop correctly. These plants thrive in rich, well-draining soil that is kept consistently moist but never soggy.

16. Fiddlehead Ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris)

Sauteed fiddlehead ferns — Fiddlehead ferns are a springtime favorite--a real seasonal right of passage in some areas.

Plant name:	Fiddlehead Ferns
Lighting requirements:	Shade
Watering requirements:	High to moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 3 to 7
Where to buy:	Amazon; American Meadows

Fiddlehead ferns are elegant and delicious springtime fare with a taste that is reminiscent of asparagus. Often sauteed with butter and served with lemon zest, these simple vegetables can also be pickled, plated up with breakfast eggs, or used in other creative ways.

Not all ferns are edible, however, and most fiddlehead ferns are actually the immature fronds of the ostrich fern. Ostrich ferns are found throughout the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, but they can also be grown in home gardens. If you want to harvest fiddlehead ferns, provide your ostrich ferns with part sun and slightly acidic, moist soil.

17. Herbs

Herbs growing at the bottom of a tree — Herbs that have a tendency to bolt in bright sun and heat do well in shady, forested gardens.

Plant name:	Herbs
Lighting requirements:	Full sun to part shade
Watering requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Depends on species
Where to buy:	Amazon; Strictly Medicinal Seeds

Like leafy greens, many herbs don’t do well in bright sun and can bolt if they’re grown in bright light or excessive heat. Planting cool weather-loving herbs, like cilantro and parsley, in pots in your wooded garden can make a lot of sense, and your plants will grow happily much longer into the summer heat. What’s more, herbs are very compact plants to grow, so you can cultivate a lot of them on a small property.

To get the most out of your harvest, try succession planting your herb seeds every 2 to 3 weeks throughout the growing season. Some of the best herbs to grow in the shade include:

Cilantro
Parsley
Mint
Lovage
Chervil
Oregano
Lemon Balm
Chives

Note: Mint and other mint-like plants, such as lemon balm, can rapidly spread and become invasive in some areas. To prevent this, be sure to grow these plants in pots and keep a lookout for underground runners which can grow out of potholes and underneath the sides of raised bed gardens.

18. American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)

A persimmon ripening on a branch — Persimmons grown from seed take a long time to bear, while grafted trees produce much quicker.

Plant name:	American Persimmon
Lighting requirements:	Full sun to part shade
Watering requirements:	Moderate
Growing zone:	Zones 4 to 9
Where to buy:	Amazon; Gurney’s

Native to the central and eastern United States, American persimmons are not the variety of persimmons you’ll commonly see in grocery stores, but they are still delicious! American persimmons are smaller in size and have a distinct, beak-like shape at their base. Very attractive to birds and other wildlife, fruit is very sweet when fully ripe but astringent in flavor when it’s picked too early.

American persimmon trees can grow up to 80’ tall, with branches stretching about 35’ across. In order to set fruit, you will need both a male and a female tree, as these plants are not self-pollinating. Trees grown from seed can take a long time to develop fruit, while trees grown from grafts will produce fruit much earlier – in as little as 3 years.

Frequently asked questions

A basket of food grown on a wooded lot — There are many foods that can be grown in shady, wooded spaces; you can use the space to manage bolt-prone plants, too.

What vegetables grow well in the woods?

Plants like Jerusalem artichokes, ramps, fiddlehead ferns, stinging nettle, and many common herbs can all grow in partial to full shade and can even be cultivated under a canopy of trees. Some fruiting plants, like elderberries and raspberries, can also adapt to forest gardens.

How do you garden in the forest?

The first step towards successful forest gardening is to select the right plants that can thrive in a wooded environment. After that, plan out and plant your garden, starting with the larger plants first to build a framework that you can work around. That means planting trees, then smaller shrubs, and saving small herbs and vegetables for last.

Can you plant a food plot in the woods?

Yes. With a bit of know-how and the right plants, you can grow an impressive amount of food in a shady, wooded property. Some of the best plants to try include sunchokes, fiddlehead ferns, and mushrooms.

What are the benefits of forest gardening?

One of the major benefits of forest gardening is that it teaches us to work with the land we have rather than against it. While in the past, homeowners may have clear-cut forests to make room for lawns and gardens, there are a variety of edible plants that can thrive in the shade. Learning to forest garden helps to preserve local ecosystems and animal habitats, and it’s also easier to begin and more budget-friendly.

Summary

A gardener harvests Jerusalem artichokes from a shaded garden — You do not have to give up on the idea of growing your own food just because your yard is mostly shaded and woody.

Homeowners with very shaded, wooded backyards may not be able to grow corn, pumpkins, and other sun-loving plants. But that doesn’t mean you can’t grow your own groceries!

There are plenty of delicious fruit, vegetables, and herbs that can grow in full to part-shade and can even thrive under a thick canopy of trees. You may need to grow plants in raised beds or pots in order to work around tangles of tree roots, but forest gardening can definitely be productive and rewarding.

Before planting in the woods, be sure to do the necessary research to understand the particular growing needs of the plants you’d like to keep. If this article inspired you and you are ready to start planting, check out our guide on growing shade-loving ginger, which is one of the best plants to sow in a woodland garden.