GrowingHQ

Crops for shallow soil over rock

Where the spade stops at twenty centimetres, rooting depth decides everything and nothing else much matters. Shallow-rooted crops are entirely unaffected, which is a more encouraging answer than most people expect.

How this list was built

Generated from the catalogue by the same engine that powers What can I grow? — 37 of the 102 edible plants qualify. It is published because it names a question people ask, returns enough plants to be useful, does not return most of the group it is about, and rests on fields that are actually populated. Lists that fail any of those are on the coverage page instead.

37 plants
PlantTypeLightSpacingMin. pot depthIn a container
AmelanchierAmelanchier lamarckiiTree or shrubStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade400–600 cm100 cmmarginal
AsparagusAsparagus officinalisVegetableSome care neededFull sun30–45 cm60 cmunsuitable
BayLaurus nobilisHerbStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade150–300 cm35 cmwell suited
BorageBorago officinalisHerbStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade45–60 cm30 cmworkable
ChamomileChamaemelum nobileHerbStraightforwardFull sun20–30 cm15 cmwell suited
ChicoryCichorium intybusVegetableSome care neededFull sun, Partial shade25–30 cm45 cmworkable
Chilli pepperCapsicum annuumVegetableSome care neededFull sun40–45 cm20 cmwell suited
ChivesAllium schoenoprasumHerbStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade20–30 cm15 cmwell suited
Crab appleMalus sylvestrisTree or shrubStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade400–600 cm100 cmmarginal
Curry leafMurraya koenigiiHerbDemandingFull sun100–150 cm35 cmwell suited
DillAnethum graveolensHerbStraightforwardFull sun20–25 cm25 cmworkable
FennelFoeniculum vulgareHerbSome care neededFull sun30–45 cm30 cmworkable
French beanPhaseolus vulgarisVegetableStraightforwardFull sun15–20 cm25 cmwell suited
GarlicAllium sativumVegetableStraightforwardFull sun15 cm20 cmworkable
Garlic chivesAllium tuberosumHerbStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade20–30 cm20 cmwell suited
Globe artichokeCynara cardunculus var. scolymusVegetableSome care neededFull sun90–120 cm60 cmmarginal
HyssopHyssopus officinalisHerbStraightforwardFull sun40–50 cm25 cmwell suited
Jerusalem artichokeHelianthus tuberosusVegetableStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade30–45 cm40 cmwell suited
Lamb's lettuceValerianella locustaVegetableStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade10–15 cm12 cmwell suited
LavenderLavandula angustifoliaOrnamentalSome care neededFull sun45–90 cm25 cmwell suited
Lemon balmMelissa officinalisHerbStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade, Dappled shade45–60 cm25 cmwell suited
Lemon thymeThymus citriodorusHerbSome care neededFull sun30–40 cm20 cmwell suited
Lemon verbenaAloysia citrodoraHerbDemandingFull sun100–150 cm35 cmwell suited
MarjoramOriganum majoranaHerbStraightforwardFull sun20–30 cm15 cmwell suited
OnionAllium cepaVegetableStraightforwardFull sun10 cm20 cmmarginal
OreganoOriganum vulgareHerbStraightforwardFull sun30 cm20 cmwell suited
PassionflowerPassiflora caeruleaOrnamentalStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade200–300 cm50 cmworkable
RosemarySalvia rosmarinusHerbStraightforwardFull sun90 cm30 cmwell suited
SageSalvia officinalisHerbStraightforwardFull sun60 cm25 cmwell suited
Salad burnetSanguisorba minorHerbStraightforwardFull sun, Partial shade30–40 cm25 cmwell suited
SavorySatureja hortensisHerbStraightforwardFull sun20–25 cm15 cmwell suited
ShallotAllium cepa var. aggregatumVegetableStraightforwardFull sun15–20 cm20 cmwell suited
Sweet pepperCapsicum annuumVegetableSome care neededFull sun45 cm25 cmwell suited
SweetcornZea maysVegetableSome care neededFull sun35–45 cm45 cmmarginal
TarragonArtemisia dracunculusHerbSome care neededFull sun45–60 cm25 cmwell suited
ThymeThymus vulgarisHerbStraightforwardFull sun30 cm15 cmwell suited
Winter savorySatureja montanaHerbStraightforwardFull sun30–40 cm25 cmwell suited