I have a shade tree over half of one of my sq ft beds, and I find that I can get lettuce and fruit set during our sweltering days in that shaded patch.
I read once, that the light out doors even in the shade is so much more than indoor light, that most shade doesn’t hinder too much, especially if you have some little dappling of sunshine coming through now and then, or situated so that you get the morning sun.
Yes, I try to get the lettuce planted near the tree. The sunlight hits the garden in the early morning but then a large tree inside the corner of the garden starts to block it as the day progresses. In the afternoon, the house blocks it.
Hubby stole separate little north side bed that gets lots of sun that the tomatoes enjoyed. Moved the tomatoes this year to the south side of the garden right by the tree. Last year, they grew but never produced on the east side that gets the most morning sun. They, like the peppers, haven’t grown much since transplanting in April. Don’t know what’s going on. The sandy loam soil looks good, is getting plenty of water and there are more worms and less bugs this year.
The cukes are now in the shadiest bed by the house and have to vine toward the sun. They’re producing enough that with stretching, we’re not missing much at mealtime. I just planted some spinach on the shady side of the cukes so will see if that comes up or not.
Having mustard greens and cukes with dinner tonight. The mustard is doing well this year with very little bug eaten leaves.