I have two small raised garden beds and I am trying the square foot method this year rather than "playing it by ear" like I did last year (lots of veggies, but a total mess). Right now, big bushy red russian kale is in the middle of one plot, and the way I've planned to have 6 tomatoes + 2 cukes across the back with trellis support, I have to either choose to put in heirloom tomato transplants from seedsavers, or start cucumber seeds.

Eventually the mature plants will have all the sun they want (from either growing vertically or the kale bolting + getting pulled out)... but as far as baby veggies are concerned, which should I put in? I've been hunting for the answer and it seems like cucumbers are more shade tolerant, but until they get big enough to pass the kale I'm worried about getting healthy seedlings in mostly shade.

What do you think?