Stuck with a shady garden space? Opting for vegetables that grow in shade — or at least vegetables that will tolerate shade — will increase your garden success.
Vegetables that grow in partial shade
With a few exceptions, which I’ve noted, the crops below can thrive in just three to four hours of sunlight.
Shade grown vegetables have a tendency to be smaller, though. They can also take a little bit longer to mature than those grown in sunny gardens.
- Salad greens like lettuce, arugula, and mesclun actually like a bit of protection from the sun. Greens are not only vegetables that grow in partial shade, but they’ll thrive there. You’ll have better luck with loose leaf lettuce; head lettuce doesn’t form well in a shade garden.
Hearty greens like Swiss chard, spinach, collards, cabbage, and kale are highly nutritious and versatile shade grown vegetables. If you can eke out five hours of sunlight, chard will produce thick stems, giving you two ways to enjoy it.
Vegetables that grow in light shade.
The plants listed above will grow in light shade as well, but add the following to the list if you’re dealing with only light shade. For these root crops, aim for four to five hours of sunlight and be aware that they might take longer to mature in these conditions.
And remember: the greens of beets, radishes, and turnips are all edible, giving you a bonus crop.
Root crops like beets, carrots, kohlrabi, radishes, and turnips are partial sun vegetables that will produce in low-light situations.
Potatoes are another partial shade vegetable.
Asparagus prefers cooler temperatures, so it’s no surprise that it will do okay with light shade, especially in hotter regions.
Vegetables that tolerate some shade
Some vegetables don’t really love shade, but they’ll do a pretty good job of tolerating low-light situations.
These options are best to choose if you have light shade.
- Peas and beans can tolerate light shade. They won’t produce as abundantly as crops grown in full sun, though.
- Green onions will keep producing all summer long in light shade if you cut just what you need and leave the root in place.
- Celery tolerates light shade. Once it’s established in your garden, it will produce stems all summer long. In warmer climates, it will winter over and produce for a second year.
- Brussels sprouts and cauliflower appreciate a little reprieve from the sun and are a good option for partial sun vegetables, as does broccoli and Romanesco.
Author: Kris Bordessa- Planting Vegetables that Grow in Shade for a Successful Harvest (attainable-sustainable.net)
