I have recently bought a house with a south-facing garden. The garden is mature with large trees. I have cleared an area towards the back and had hoped to grow vegetables in this area but have realised that the shed, some conifer trees shade a lot of this area for most of the day.

Are there any vegetables/herbs I could hope to grow in such an area? I could get some sunshine into this area by cutting some of the higher branches of some trees. Would reflecting light work (excuse my ignorance of science) or does this not provide the right elements?

Thanks