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Vegetables for full shade


Shade-Tolerant Vegetables and Herbs — Seattle's Favorite Garden Store Since 1924

Don’t give up on a vegetable garden because you have more shade than you would like. Many gardeners don’t have the opportunity to grow in the ideal 8+ hours of full sun, especially in the city. However, many veggies can tolerate partial shade; a few even appreciate it!

“Partial shade” refers to areas that are exposed to 3-6 hours of sunlight. Areas that receive dappled sun or filtered sunlight for most of the day are also considered to be in partial shade. Even in less-than-ideal sun exposure, you can still do some veggie gardening. Just try it out and see! Often, gardeners with shade garden success earned it with a little trial and error. 

Try these shade-tolerant vegetables in your garden:

Salad greens

arugula, endive, lettuce, sorrel, spinach

Salad greens generally do well in cooler weather and they welcome some shade! It can be tricky to grow them during the hottest part of the summer because these veggies go to seed (also known as bolting) more quickly with too much heat or sun. However, a  shadier spot can help extend their production. Salad greens tolerate 3-4 hours of sun per day very well.

Leafy greens

collards, kale, mustard greens, swiss chard

These leafy greens are often served cooked. With 3-4 hours of sun daily, they will grow more slowly but you can harvest them as “baby greens” and they will be tender and sweet.

Root veggies 

beets, carrots, potatoes, radishes, rutabaga, turnips

You can harvest root veggies before they reach their full size for "baby" vegetables, or wait a little longer for a fully mature crop. They’ll take a little longer to reach full size in 4-5 hours of sun, but partial shade will prevent them from bolting (going to seed) too quickly. Radishes especially prefer a bit of shade from the heat of summer, to keep them from turning woody and bolting. Consistent watering is also important to avoid woodiness and bolting. Keep in mind that you can harvest the delicious greens of beets, turnips, and radishes even if the root stays small.

Brassica veggies

Broccoli and cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage

These veggies in the Brassica genus grow tighter heads and flower later with partial sun. With broccoli and cauliflower, you may be able to get a second smaller crop after you cut off the main central head. These cool-weather plants do well with 4-6 hours of sunlight daily.

Peas and beans

Being in a shaded spot will lengthen the growing season for peas and beans! These veggies can do well with about 4-5 hours of sun daily. Remember to pick peas and beans regularly to encourage continued growth. Read more tips in our blog post on how to grow peas. 

Leeks and onions

Leeks and onions do very well in cooler, moist environments. They can get by with at least about 4 hours of sun per day. 

Herbs

mint, chervil, chives, coriander/cilantro, oregano, parsley

Herbs make great additions to a shady veggie garden! Keep in mind these herbs will grow more quickly and densely with more sun, but they usually still do well with 4 hours of sun per day. Also, note that mint is such a vigorous grower that it’s best to put it in a container so it doesn’t take over your garden.

Meals are best when the ingredients are home-grown; don't let some shade stop you! Happy planting!

 

31 Vegetables That Grow in Shade For Gardens Without Full Sun

Not every gardener has a perfect, south-facing sunny spot to grow their vegetables. If you find your gardening areas have more shade than sun-loving vegetables can tolerate, try planting this list of vegetables that grow in the shade.

Most vegetables need at least 6 to 8 hours of full sunlight each day to grow. However, if you are one of those people who have partially or mostly shady gardens, there’s good news! There are several shade-tolerant vegetables that you can plant that will thrive in your garden.

Shade can offer a couple of perks to the plants and veggies on this list.

First perk: Shade can offer relief from the intense summer heat for vegetables that prefer cooler weather.

Second perk: Shade can enable you to have both early and late harvests by allowing your vegetables to be planted in succession.

So if you have trees, a building, or something else that blocks sunlight from parts of your garden during the day, you don’t need to let those spots go to waste! Plant these shade-loving vegetables in those areas and watch them thrive while enjoying the fruits – or rather, vegetables – of your labor.

**This post was updated on January 28th, 2022 from the original publishing date of April 16th, 2020 to add in additional growing information.**

WHAT DO THE DIFFERENT TERMS FOR SUN EXPOSURE MEAN?

Depending on which compass direction your yard faces as well as the trees, buildings, and other sun-shading features you may have in your yard, you may have any combination of different sun exposure microclimates in your garden areas.

A microclimate is an area of your garden that is different from a spot next to it. For example, a place that receives full shade is different from a spot that receives full sun, even if they are just feet apart from each other.

Here’s a quick explanation of the sun exposure microclimates you may find within your yard.

FULL SUN

These areas receive at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight between the hours of 10 am and 6 pm.

PARTIAL SHADE

Partial shade also referred to as partial sun, these areas receive approximately 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.

Dappled Shade

Light shade is sunlight that is partially blocked by the leaves of trees.

Deep Shade

Deep shade-tolerant vegetables will only require 2-3 hours of sunlight a day

FULL SHADE

Full-shade areas receive filtered sunlight throughout the day or very little to no direct sunlight. All vegetables need some light to grow, so a full shade area is not suitable for growing vegetables. Too much shade can create stunted growth, and or inhibit flower development.

SUN MAPPING

It’s a good idea to sun map your garden if the space is new to you, or if you’re planning your garden for the first time. The sun you see in winter is far different than the sun you actually get in the middle of summer.

There is a very handy sun mapping app you can use to plot your yard and see the changes in the sunlight during the day, week, and month.

It’s very surprising to see the difference in sunlight hours from season to season. Large trees, garages, and even your own home can have a significant impact on the available sun and shade.

Shade-Tolerant Vegetables To Plant In Your Garden

You can still enjoy vegetable gardening even if you have less-than-ideal sun exposure in your yard. Generally speaking, vegetables that grow from a blossom (tomatoes, cucumbers, melons) need full sunlight. However, leafy greens, some veggies that grow underground, and cold weather-loving vegetables can grow well in shady areas.

Here are the best vegetables that can grow in partial shade for your garden.  If shade is the only space you have to start a garden, you can still grow a considerable amount of fresh produce. 

BRASSICA VEGETABLES

This family of vegetables includes popular vegetable choices such as:

These cool-weather veggies thrive in partial shade, as they get too hot in full sun. Cauliflower needs at least some shade to go through the blanching process so that the head turns white. A bit of morning sun with some afternoon shade is the perfect combination.

Brassicas are cold-tolerant plants that should be started 10-12 weeks prior to your last frost date. Because they are frost-tolerant, your brassica seedlings can be planted outside about two weeks before the last frost date in your area.

This family of vegetables offers some beautiful varieties that may look wonderful in your shade flower garden too like flowering ornamental kale.

  

Shade Loving LEAFY VEGETABLE GREENS

Our favorite cool season crop is spinach. We direct sow seeds of this cool season plant all season long but continue to change the location of where we plant. Later succession plantings are moved to shadier and shadier areas.

Other leafy greens, like lettuce, swiss chard, mustard greens, etc should be planted in early spring but you can plant later, just ensure the spot is well-shaded to protect them from direct sun later in the season. Leafy vegetables plated with too much sun and too much heat will bolt early.

Arugula, endive, and watercress only require 3-4 hours of sun exposure per day.

Of all the vegetables that grow in the shade, leafy greens will grow the best in partial shade. Keeping these salad greens in the shade as the season gets hotter helps them to last longer and remain tender.

Shade also helps create cooler temperatures which will help prevent your leafy greens from bolting too early. A great shade vegetable for early spring planting, lettuce, for example, is completely content being tucked away in a shady spot in your vegetable garden.

Leafy vegetables can be sown directly in the garden starting mid-spring. If your summers are cool you can plant out until mid-September. If you want to get an early jump on the growing season, start seeds four to six weeks before the last frost date in your area.

Asian Greens Planted in Full Shade

Asian greens such as bok choi, tatsoi, and pak choi do exceptionally well in deeply shaded areas. They enjoy ambient light and only require 2 hours of sun per day.

ROOT Vegetables that grow in shade

Root vegetables, like potatoes, are considered a long-season crop and can usually handle a light frost. These are harvested as a fall crop, right before the first hard frost.

Root vegetables that grow well in partial shade include:

Growing root vegetables in partial shade may take a little longer for them to reach full maturity, but it also keeps them from bolting as quickly. If you just can’t (or want) to keep waiting, you can harvest root veggies before they reach full size to enjoy “baby” versions.

Also, feel free to enjoy the leafy greens of carrots, turnips, radishes, and beets.

Root crops also usually do quite well grown in containers or a garden bed. The great thing about growing your shade vegetables in containers is you can move them around to either shade from the sun, or place them in the sun as required.

Direct sow your root crops for strong healthy plants in early spring.  Most root vegetables do poorly when transplanted. Loosen the soil and remove rocks so that your root vegetables can grow. Planting carrots in a rocky bed is a surefire way to get gnarly-looking carrots! And lastly, keep an eye out for weeds throughout the season. Weeds will flourish in damp shady areas and can choke out your seedlings and or make it difficult for your plants to mature.

See: How To Deal With Weeds

BEANS AND PEAS

Growing beans and peas in partial shade will lengthen their growing season. Just remember to pick them to encourage continued growth regularly.

Bush beans and peas also grow exceptionally well in pots, allowing you to move them out of the sun as required. If planted in direct sunlight beans and peas can overheat

Seeds are best sown outdoors any time after the last frost date when soils have warmed. Don’t plant too early, as cold soil will delay germination and could cause the seeds to rot.

Harvest peas frequently through the growing season to ensure a consistent bounty.

Beans and peas make wonderful companion plants for cucumbers. Planting nasturtiums around the base of the pea and bean plants can be a preventative step for controlling pests.

See: Benefits of Planting Nasturtiums

 

 

Quick Reference- List of 31 Vegetables That Grow in Shade

In case you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick reference for you to have on hand. This is an alphabetical list of shade-tolerant vegetables so you can find what you’re looking for quickly.

 

Tips to Help Vegetables That Grow in the Shade Thrive

Growing vegetables in shade can present its own unique set of challenges. Here are some helpful tips to help you achieve success.

Ensure Good Soil

Plants that don’t receive food through sunlight need good soil to receive their necessary nutrients. If you don’t have good soil in the area of your garden where you want to grow your shade vegetables, amend it with nutritious, good-quality compost.  I like to add a handful of worm compost directly to my planting hole, as well as organic compost and rock dust added directly to the soil before planting. 

Right Amount of Water

Shade areas require very different levels of watering than full sun areas need because moisture doesn’t evaporate as quickly. Get to know the water requirements of your shady areas, as nearby trees can drink up a lot of water, and the leaves may prevent rain from reaching the garden area.  

Maturation Time

Vegetables that are growing in shady areas but prefer more sun will mature slower than they would if they were growing in full sun. Expect longer times than what is printed on the seed packets for these vegetables.   

Space Apart Appropriately

You do not want your vegetables to be overcrowded. Each type of plant requires a certain amount of room to root and grow. The U.S. Department of Agriculture created a handy guide you can use to plan your garden here.

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Create The Vegetable Garden Of Your Dreams

If you long for a vegetable garden but lack great sunshine-filled growing areas, you can still have an excellent growing season by planting vegetables that grow in the shade.

The shade-tolerant vegetables on this list offer a nice variety to your garden both in flavor and visual beauty. I hope you found some veggies on this list that you can’t wait to grow this year. 

Tag us on social to see your gardens! We love to see other gardens, small, big, shade or sun so tag us so we can see yours.

If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to add them below!

And we have lots of gardening inspiration on the site for you to check out as well:

What vegetables can grow and produce crops in partial shade? Greens, root vegetables, radishes, legumes, cabbage, etc.

Photo - Botanichka

Vegetables, herbs and herbs do not have to be grown only in open sunny areas. Site conditions vary. Perhaps you are the owner of a secluded garden and strive to make the most of unoccupied areas in partial shade. Maybe you are setting up an ornamental garden, in which some of the beds are shaded by shrubs, trees, and buildings. Even for such conditions, there are many plants that give a good harvest. And it doesn't have to be spicy herbs or boring salads. In soft lighting, protected from overheating and drought, many traditional garden dwellers surprise only on the positive side.

What vegetables can grow and produce crops in partial shade?

Peculiarities of growing vegetables in partial shade

Gardens are traditionally planted on open, sunny areas. But the popularity of mixed garden design and ornamental vegetable gardens, this seemingly invariable rule, is just one of the options. Especially in small gardens, where every free meter of space is very valuable.

Places in shade, in soft scattered penumbra under deciduous trees or near buildings should not be considered “unsuitable” for growing vegetables and useful plants. As are those beds where larger crops create shading. Whatever the reason that prompted the cultivation of vegetables in partial shade, suitable species will always be found. They will also help out in situations where you need to make room for more sun-loving crops by moving shade-tolerant species.

Before looking for vegetable plants for shady areas, it is worth limiting the allowable shading to reasonable limits. Vegetables can be grown in partial shade, but not in dense shade. For full-fledged fruiting, the formation of tasty leaves or fruits, any plant needs at least 3-4 hours of sun per day for leafy and spicy crops and 5 hours for root crops and crops that eat fruits. Even the most shade-tolerant salads and herbs are no exception to these norms. And, of course, when changing the lighting from the usual bright, it is worth making sure that the soil and its characteristics fully comply with the individual requirements of each plant species.

Particular garden plants will thrive in partial shade:

There are many advantages to growing some vegetables in partial shade - from longer vegetation, more delicate texture and taste of greenery to less need for watering and care. Indeed, in partial shade, the soil overheats less, moisture does not evaporate so quickly, the soil retains its texture and breathability better, and the risk of crusting is not so high.

But there are also risks: in partial shade, with excessive humidity and excessive rainfall, the risk of spreading diseases increases, and the crop volume in bad years can be several times inferior to "colleagues" in traditional beds. But if you choose the right plants and take into account the characteristics of your garden, constantly change the "set" of crops and do not forget about the elementary rules of growing and crop rotation, planting vegetables in partial shade will only bring joy.

Spicy herbs in semi-shady places bloom later and form a noticeably large green mass

Spicy classic for places with secluded lighting

Most plants that combine several useful qualities at once prefer stable soil moisture and do not like sun and overheating. Delicious leaves that can be used as food or for tea, used as a medicinal plant or spice in fresh and dried form, decorative - such cultures have many talents.

Mint is the most decorative and has the best leaf mass in partial shade. But this is just the obvious choice. Other herbs can also be grown in secluded lighting:

The main argument in favor of growing herbs in semi-shady locations is that they bloom later, form a large green mass of fragrant leaves for a slightly longer period (at least a few weeks compared to plants in open sunny areas).

Lettuces of all varieties and colors will feel very comfortable in shading. © harvesttotable

Salads and leafy vegetables for semi-shade

You can set up a bed with your favorite herbs even in a small area near the house. It is an excellent alternative to flyers and the best "filler" for mixed ornamental plantings. A secluded semi-shady corner will appeal to both fast-growing plants and plants that reach their best taste only by autumn.

You can't grow head lettuce in partial shade, but lettuces of all varieties and colors will feel comfortable in shading. As well as spicy salads - watercress, valerianella, arugula, etc.

Grows a much larger leaf mass with smaller leaf size and is pleasantly distinguished by its delicate flavor and texture from its counterparts in full sun also:

These must-have plants for the summer table with a special taste bloom much later in partial shade, are not bitter and require less frequent watering. The risk of fungal diseases is higher, but pests are lower.

Read also our article The 9 Best Vegetable Salads to Plant This Season.

The real queen of partial shade - cabbage

Favorite vegetables to serve

If a semi-shady area requires at least 5 hours of morning or evening sun, then classic vegetables can also be grown on it. Of course, not all the inhabitants of the beds can move to secluded places. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, corn, and many other species will not grow even in light partial shade. But there are pleasant exceptions to this rule.

Physalis, rhubarb and radish

In partial shade, physalis will delight you with an excellent harvest - an unpretentious plant from which you can choose vegetable or sweet strawberry varieties for every taste. Even with minimal care, physalis bears fruit amazingly abundantly and for a long time. And it is easily renewed by self-sowing.

You can safely grow rhubarb in partial shade, creating original accents in compositions or entire decorative groups with the help of this perennial favorite. He will release a large number of shoots only with timely watering, but on the other hand, it will be possible to harvest the crop longer than in full sun, while the rhubarb stems will remain juicy and tender.

Radish is an amazingly versatile plant. Fast growing, adaptable to almost any company and great in mixed plantings, it will surprise you with a milder taste and delicate texture in partial shade. The larger-fruited variety, the juicier and not sharper it turns out in diffused lighting, although it does not reach the maximum size. And the radish shoots in a secluded place much later.

Root crops

Other root crops can be added to the plan of sowing in partial shade, which do well even not in the sun. Carrots, parsnips, beets, rutabaga may not bring a record harvest, but they will delight you with tenderness and leaves. Even potatoes can be placed here: plantings for collecting young tubers to the table in the summer in shading often surprise only on the good side. Later fruiting is not such a big disadvantage if you choose early and early-growing varieties. Yes, and potatoes do not form such a green mass in partial shade, but larger and more uniform tubers on fertile soil can be expected.

Beets, perhaps, will not bring a record harvest in partial shade, but they will please with tenderness and leaves. © harvesttotable

Cabbage

Cabbage is the real queen of the penumbra. Moreover, there are many varieties that perfectly tolerate limited lighting, both among everyone's favorites and among the species that are grown mainly by devoted fans. The first candidates are varieties of cabbage that are prone to shooting and losing the quality of leaves in the sun, considered to be autumn rather than summer, preferring a reduced daylight hours - pok choy, Beijing, kale and other varieties of leafy cabbage.

Both broccoli and cauliflower of all colors form much more delicious and tender buds in less than full sun. And they are surprised by the ability, after cutting the main crop, to continue to form small lateral heads in the axils of the leaves.

White cabbage of early varieties also grows well in partial shade, more readily tying more juicy heads. But the brussels sprouts, which are returning to fashion again, are even better tolerated by shading, in which the heads grow larger in partial shade.

Read also our article 5 Unusual Types of Cabbage You Should Be Growing.

Onions

Many onions give a much tastier harvest not in bright sun, but in not overheated soil in diffused light. Instead of the growth of leaves and the rapid release of arrows, the growth of underground parts is stimulated in partial shade. Onions from among lettuce, sweet varieties, original edible and decorative perennial onions (primarily chives and slime onions) and a capricious favorite leek will gladly settle in more secluded lighting, especially in mixed plantings. Garlic gives a smaller yield, but if you want to free up space in the garden, you can place it in partial shade.

Read also our article Perennial onions for greens, which I recommend to grow for everyone.

Legumes

Peas, beans and beans are the best candidates for a semi-shady location among leguminous plants. In partial shade, you can safely grow low-growing, bushy varieties from among modern unpretentious hybrids that will give an excellent harvest even without full sun, requiring almost no maintenance.

Horseradish and wild garlic - for full shade

If you do not plan to limit yourself to semi-shaded areas and are looking for plants for strong shade, pay attention to wild garlic and horseradish, which love areas under the crowns of trees and large shrubs.

Vegetables that grow well in partial shade

Most fruits require a lot of sunlight to ripen. But what if your site is shaded? Is it really worth abandoning the idea of ​​growing vegetables, fruits, herbs? In no case! There are many vegetables and herbs that can be grown in full or openwork shade, and sometimes three to six hours of sun a day is enough for them. Here is a list of 28 vegetables that grow well in partial shade.


Green crops

Crops such as lettuce, sorrel, chicory, watercress and arugula can suffer from sunburn if they get too much sun during the day. Chard, kale, mustard greens only need about three or four hours of sun each day to thrive. If you plant them in partial shade, you can harvest for several weeks longer.

Herbs

Herbs such as mint, chervil, coriander, cilantro and parsley prefer partial shade. In fact, mint is such an all-consuming crop that even your attempts to eradicate it will most likely fail.

Peas and beans

If your garden plot gets at least five hours of sun every day, you can safely grow peas and beans. To do this, it is enough to choose dwarf varieties.

Broccoli and cauliflower

Full sun affects broccoli - too much light can cause rapid shoots, flowering, while partial sun will produce tastier heads. After you have cut off the large central head, leave the plant in the ground, as smaller heads may form along the stem at the leaf axils. In cauliflower, when sunlight is limited to 6 hours a day, denser heads form.

Cabbage and Brussels sprouts

Brussels sprouts are cold hardy. It does well in limited sunlight. Although cabbages are broadleaf, too much sun will dry them out and encourage smaller heads and larger open leaves.

Radishes

Radishes are a fast growing vegetable that grows well as a beacon crop between other plants. Radishes prefer shade during the heat of summer, when too long daylight hours lead to shooting.

Root vegetables

Beets, carrots, potatoes, rutabagas and turnips grow well in partial shade, but you will have to wait longer to harvest. But the good news is that the lack of light stimulates the growth of root crops more than green mass, which in this case is only at hand.

Leek and Leek

Both leeks and leeks thrive in cool environments and need less sun to stimulate growth below.

Learn more