Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I'm thinking about constructing an outdoor system on my apartment patio. The problem is that I live right by the parking deck, and get very little (none?) direct sun.

So, does anyone have suggestions for appropriate plants?

A short bit about my climate: It's hot and humid during the summer ( 100F or 38C with 90% humidity ), and gets down to about 20F or -7C. We do get hard frosts in the winters.

Any help would be appreciated.

You should be protected from frosts as you're so encased by buildings.
as for low light, you may find it's not such a problem. How much light (in hours) do you get every day?
I think a fernery would do very well there, but they're more pretty than tasty...
best approach is 'suck it and see' plant some things, see how they do. If you can, get a sheet of mylar or polished steel and try to reflect more light down. It will keep your temps in the house lower in summer if you reflect the light off the building.

Leafy greens do OK with minimal light so things like soft leaf lettuce, kale, chinese veges (boc choy etc). You could also try parsley and mint.

Quick warning on the mint, it tends to take over.

Mint will grow ANYWHERE! keep the balcony smelling fresh too

Mint will grow well in shade and likes almost all conditions but give it it's own grow bed because it will take over.

Parsley seems to do well here in shade.

Aloe Likes shade

As to the stuff like lettuce. It may grow but will likely to tall spindly, try to fall over and grow slow. Most veggies like a little bit of sun or at least bright filtered light for a few hours a day. Try it though and see what it does in your situation. You might be able to manage things like carrots, turnips, radish, and maybe even kohlrabi. Some other edibles you might not have thought about but they have a pretty side would be violet, viola and pansy which should do well in the less sunny situation.

You might look into what tropical plants are edible and grow in shade and they might like your summer conditions there.

And during all but the coldest part of the year, most any houseplant would be fine in that AP system.

A duckweed tub would probably be a fine addition as well since it only needs light and not bright sun.

Kuda, I have ambient light but no direct sun at all. I'll take some pics today.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

Here are pics of the area.

and the parking deck...

Ask your landlord if there's any apts available on the sunny side of the building!

heh, maybe I'll hang a mylar sheet from the deck... think the neighbors would mind?

It depends... it's odd what the neighbours will sometimes regard acceptable, and unfathomable what they will find unacceptable!