Yes, there is such a thing as a shade vegetable. Here are 32 vegetables and herbs you can grow easily at home.
Some vegetables prefer limited exposure to sunlight. But it's important to know which veggie needs what.
For some vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, and squash, full sun is ideal. But if you do not have a garden in the best location or have a large periphery with less light, there are plenty of vegetables that will grow well without full sun.
Try growing some shade tolerant vegetables like beetroot, calabrese, kale, kohl rabi, Little Gem lettuce. Also radish, spinach and herbs - chives, mint and parsley are all shade tolerant.
How much shade?
There are three basic sunlight conditions that are used to describe the amount of sun during the prime-growing season:
Full Sun:
Full sun areas receive direct sunshine for 6 or more hours per day between the hours of 10 am and 6 pm.
Partial Shade:
Partial shade or partial sun both refer to areas that obtain 3-6 hours of sun each day. Partial sun areas receive 3-6 hours of direct sunlight but are shaded for the rest of the day. Partially shaded spaces are moderately shaded during part of the day or receive filtered or dappled sunlight all day. Dappled sunlight is where the light is filtered through the leaves of trees.
Full Shade:
Full shade areas receive no direct sun or reflected light during the day. An area with deep shade is not a good place for growing vegetables. All plants need some light to grow.
As a general rule, if you have a few hours of full sun but dark shade for the rest of the day, you can grow some crops, but the yields won’t be as high as if you had bright or dappled shade during the rest of the day.
32 Vegetables and herbs for shady gardens
Rather than choose crops that will struggle in a shaded garden, choose crops that are adapted to shade.
1. Arugula
Arugula is among the fastest-growing leafy greens. It is one of those greens that people either love or hate, as it can have musky odor and taste. Some find its peppery bite very refreshing. Arugula tolerates some shade but also does well in full sun. It is easy to grow from seed sown directly into the garden.
2. Spinach
As a cold season veggie, spinach quickly bolts as spring morphs into summer. However, I’ve found that by seeding spinach in my shaded veggie beds, we can harvest tender spinach all summer long.
3. Beets
Beets sort of break the rules for planting root vegetables in partial shade and can do surprisingly well. While the shade may impact the size of your beetroots, the plants will still produce delicious greens.
4. Kale
It’s nutritious, tasty, and handles a range of temperatures with ease. While it prefers full sun, it’s perfectly capable of leafing out in partial shade. This plant requires fertile soil with a loamy consistency.
5. Lettuce
Lettuce thrives in cool weather and does better in the shade, especially when temperatures start to rise. Full sun can increase the chances of premature bolting, so choosing a semi-shaded spot is ideal for summer lettuce.
6. Carrots
While carrots grow quickest in full sun, they’ll do fine in partial shade — just adjust your expectations.
7. Chard
Plant this leafy green vegetable in fertile soil and mulch to conserve moisture. Chard will grow well in either full sun or partial shade.
8. Peas
Peas are one of the first spring veggies to be sown in many gardens, and they grow in full sun or partial shade.
9. Mustard Greens
A lesser-known cool weather green that’s an excellent addition to salads and stir-fry, mustard greens are nutrient-dense and grow just fine in partial shade.
10. Potatoes
While full sun is recommended for growing potatoes, I’ve successfully harvested tubers after a season of growing in partial shade. Grow taters in acidic, sandy soil, and ensure they receive regular watering.
11. Radish
Radishes are one of the fastest-growing vegetable crops. In the shade, they’ll grow a little slower, but they’ll grow all the same.
12. Broccoli
So the fact that it actually prefers cooler temperatures and some shade makes it that much more amazing. Now you have no reason not to give it a try.
13. Cabbage
Cabbage is another crop that prefers cooler temperatures. The cooler the temperature the fewer bugs you must battle.
14. Brussels Sprouts
Brussel sprouts are kind of like tiny cabbages that grow in partial shade, why not grow them.
15. Cauliflower
Cauliflower is another plant that prefers cooler temperatures. I planted it in full sun one year and it practically cooked in the middle of my garden bed. So partial shade could help with the temperature needs.
16. Swiss Chard
The front of my home only gets morning sun, and I get a beautiful rainbow Swiss chard every time. Hopefully, you’ll have the same results.
17. Celery
Celery is a difficult crop to grow but it is a plant that loves cool weather. So it should be no surprise that it prefers partial shade as this may help keep it cooler.
18. Chinese Cabbage
You might want to give Chinese cabbage a try if you decide to create a garden bed in the partial shade this year.
19. Garlic
Garlic is great to grow yourself. It takes a while to grow.
20. Horseradish
It has a spicier flavor so if you aren’t into spicy food, then you might not be interested. But if you do like spicy, then growing your own could be great fun.
21. Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi is another interesting vegetable that isn’t common to a lot of people. It has a taste that is similar to broccoli and cabbage
22. Leeks
So if you are a fan of scallions, then you might want to consider growing leeks and seeing what you think of them.
23. Parsnip
Parsnips are related to the carrot. They kind of look like a white carrot and are often cooked with them. So if you’d like to try growing something a little different, then you might want to consider this for a partial shade crop.
24. Scallions
They are great to go on top of potato soup and as a garnish on many other dishes. Not only do they add a good amount of flavor, but they add beautiful color to your dish as well.
25. Turnip
Turnips are an acquired taste, but I actually like them because they offer up two dishes. If you don’t like the turnips themselves, then you will probably like the greens.
26. Asparagus
We grow asparagus in our garden as well. It takes a little time for asparagus to take off so you can begin to harvest it.
27. Rhubarb
We grow ours in a partially shaded garden and it has done very well in our experience.
28. Garden Cress
This is a fast-growing herb that is related to mustard and watercress. It has a great smell and a nice peppery flavor. It can be added to different foods to give off that flavor in the dish.
29. Lemon Balm
Lemon balm has many uses. I usually plant a lot of it for bees. They are attracted to the scent and in turn, pollinate my garden. So if you would like a bee attractant to be added to your partially shaded spaces, then this might be a good one.
30. Mint
Mint is great for making teas and exatacts. It is also great at driving away pests such as mosquitos. If you plant it and care for it, it does spread and can create a nice barrier of pest protection.
31. Parsley
Parsley is one of those herbs that can be added to virtually any dish. We grow a lot of this every year because our family loves it so much. The fact that it can be grown in partial shade is just that much better.
32. Rosemary
Rosemary is a stronger herb. It packs quite the flavor punch when placed in dishes. So if you love this aromatic herb, then consider adding it to your shaded herb garden this year.
Tips for Growing Vegetables in Shade:
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Use Good Soil: Provide them with good-quality soil with plenty of nutritious compost. If tree roots are a problem, consider using a raised bed or growing vegetables in containers.
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Moisture Requirements: Moisture doesn’t evaporate as quickly in the shade so you may not need to water as often. However, if your shade garden is near trees, you may need to water more frequently since your plants will be competing with trees for moisture.
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Maturation Times: Vegetables that prefer more sunlight but can grow in shade will grow slower. Expect slower maturation of crops and scale down expectations of size and yield.
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Watch for Pests: Shady and cool areas are very welcoming to slugs and snails. Use neem cake or neem oil to prevent it.
Most important of all, make the most of what sun you have. If you’re lucky enough to have a few sunny spots that get more than 6 hours of sun, try growing tomatoes or other favorites in strategically placed pots.
With a little resourcefulness, you can have fresh vegetables and herbs from spring to fall ie year-round.
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