Vegetables to Grow in Shade
If you’re not blessed with a sunny garden space, see our list of vegetables (and fruit) that will grow in partial shade, as well as vegetables that will NOT grow in shade. Plus, see our tips and design ideas for a partial-shade vegetable garden.
Although fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and squash need at least 6 hours of full sun daily to give you a good harvest, most crops can “get by” with part sun or part shade (3 to 6 hours of direct sunlight).
Before you even think about what to plant, make note of just how much sun your site actually receives; you might be surprised! There are different levels of shade and it will often change with the seasons. Here are the common terms associated with light levels in the garden:
Full sun is considered to be 6–8 hours (or more) of direct sunlight per day. Peak sunlight hours are between 10 am and 2 pm.
Partial sun is 3–6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Partial shade is about 3 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Full shade is less than 3 hours of sun and dappled light for the rest of the day.
Light shade or dappled shade is bright sun filtered through the leaves of trees overhead.
Deep shade gets no sun at all. You won’t be growing any vegetables here.
Which Types of Vegetables Do Well in Shade?
Cole crops are tolerant of partial sun or partial shade. Broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, turnips, kale, and rutabagas will grow well with less than a full day of sun, but may take longer to mature. Cabbage will also grow in shade, but they may not form tight heads.
Root crops such as radishes, carrots, potatoes, and beets can grow in as little as 3-4 hours of direct sun with light or dappled shade for the rest of the day.
Leafy greens such as lettuce, arugula, kale, bok choy, and chard are happy with just a few hours of sunshine each day. In fact, keeping them out of midday sun can prevent their tender leaves from wilting.
Climbing vegetables do well in areas that are shaded in the morning but sunny by afternoon. Cucumbers and pole beans will clamber up supports into the sunshine.
Perennial vegetables such as rhubarb, asparagus, and Jerusalem artichokes can be grown in partial sun or partial shade.
Vegetables that are susceptible to bolting, like broccoli, cauliflower, and spinach, can benefit from being grown in partial sun, particularly in hotter climates.
For areas that receive morning sun then afternoon shade, try vegetables such as celery, carrots, and bush beans.
Continued at link with Growing Guides for specific shade-tolerant vegetables:
https://www.almanac.com/vegetables-grow-shade
This is good information. No wonder I have such trouble growing things that require full sun. There are only a handful of spots in my yard where it actually gets full sun, at least 6 hours. Most everything gets partial sun at best. The tallest trees send shadows all around.
I’ve also figured out why I can’t grow cilantro. It needs more shade than where I’ve been putting it! I am successfully growing chervil, I guess because I read that it needs partial sun, so I’ve put it where it gets morning sun and then dappled the rest of the day. It’s really happy. I just added it to eggs with shallots and Emmentaler cheese, and it was a lovely change.
Long sunny days, short starry nights! Its almost Mid-summer!
Having lived off grid for a few years with a few solar panels, I can definitely confirm this.