I have learned over the years that many types of vegetables can grow in the shade. We will discuss the varieties as a whole in this article.
As a general rule vegetables can grow in the shade. Some vegetables like tomatoes and peppers require 6-8 hours of sunlight to perform well. However beets, carrots and radishes will grow in part shade of only 4 hours of sunlight with a slightly longer grow season. Even better we have vegetables that love cooler shades including Lettuce, spinach and kale. In the article below we will talk about types of shades, Seed planting in shaded areas and best vegetables to plant in the shade.
The kind of shade you have greatly effects which vegetables can be grown there. Seeds require different temperatures to germinate. By starting seeds indoors or planting against buildings we can increase which plants we place in the shade. Some seeds also do better if you soak them first. Find out more in this post.
Planting Vegetables In Part-Shade Vs Full-Shade
When looking at what vegetables you can grow in the shade you need to first determine what kind of shade you have. Most shaded spots do receive some sunlight, these are referred to as part-shade. Part-shade gardens receive 3-6 hours of sunlight. Compared to full-shade gardens that receive no direct sunlight. We encourage you to watch your garden spot for a day and log anytime you see sun in that spot. If the garden receives at least 3 hours of sunlight than what you can grow increases greatly. We have created a quick reference chart below of what vegetables grow best in full or part shade gardens.
| Part Shade | Full Shade |
| Carrots Beets Turnips Radishes Potatoes Cabbage Brussel sprouts Cauliflower Peas Beans Leeks Onions | Parsley Oregano Chives Mint (very invasive) Mustard greens Swiss Chard Kale Lettuce Arugula Horseradish |
Planting Seeds in cold temperatures
Planting vegetables in the shade relies on more than just sunlight. Vegetable seeds have a minimum temperature to germinate. On average you can use your last frost date to know when to plant. Shaded gardens often can take a week or more beyond the last frost date for the soil to warm. There are also different germination temperatures for each vegetable. We have compiled our shade vegetables list into a chart of optimum soil temperature requirements. You can find more information in our When Is it Safe to Plant Outside post.
| Vegetable | Germination Temperatures In Fahrenheit |
| Carrot Beet Turnip Radish Potato Starts Cabbage Brussel Sprouts Cauliflower Peas Beans Leeks Onion Parsley Oregano Swiss Chard Chives Kale Mint Mustard Greens | 65-85 60-85 60-95 65-85 60-90 60-85 60-85 65-85 65-75 75-85 65-85 65-85 65-85 65-70 65-85 40-85 60-85 55-70 60-75 |
Helpful Tips to growing vegetables in a shade garden
Use pots and movable containers. A great way to grow vegetables in a shaded area is to use containers that can be easily moved. If you have a porch or driveway in a sunny spot, a great solution would be to plant your vegetables in pots and move them into the sun for 3-6 hours every few days. This will allow them to get addition sunlight and warmth to help in the germination and grow cycles.
Plastic covers can work great early in the growing season when the shade is still a bit to cold to germinate your plants. Covers can found around your home. Try milk jugs, clear jars or clear plastic sheets.
You can build cold frames with just a few boards and some plastic sheets. These can be moved once your growing season is in full swing. Often creating a small barrier between your plants and the cold wind can help them thrive in a shade garden.
Another option is to use a garden cloche. Find more information in our How to Use Garden Cloche article.
Using Vegetable starts to extend your growing season
A great way to grow vegetables in your shade garden is to buy vegetable starts. These are plants started at a nursery and available to purchase at garden centers in the spring. By using vegetable starts you avoid the problem of your shaded area being to cold to germinate seeds. Make sure to Harden off the vegetable starts before planting. Simple move them from full sun to shade for a few hours everyday for about 7 days.
Remember there’s Fruit that can grow in the shade too
Growing fruit in the shade can be difficult and only works well in partial shade areas. If you have a shaded area that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight, you may want to consider planting one of these great fruits.
Pear varieties such as Beth and plums like the Czar variety will do fine with just a few hours of sun each day. Dwarf varieties planted in containers can be moved into sunnier spots during fruiting to help with production.
Grapes are great to grow in shade along a fence they can be staked to. With 6 hours of sunlight grapes will produce fine. Try Muscadines if you’re looking for a shade friendly variety.
Berries such as (paid links) gooseberry, serviceberry, raspberries and blackberries all can grow if you have constant filtered sunlight. These will also perform well with 6 hours of direct sunlight.
Problems with growing fruits and vegetables in the shade
In total growing fruits and vegetables in your shaded garden is fantastic. We would however like to point out some possible problems that can arise in a shade garden. Long periods of shade can hinder fruit and vegetable production. With limited ability to photosynthesis the plants are on a diet. If conditions get difficult for a plant the low light may make it susceptible to disease and insect infestation. If your shade garden is covered by a thick tree canopy, another key factor to watch is airflow. Pruning trees and bushes can help with both airflow and increase sunlight exposure.
Shade garden companion plants
There are some great companion plants for your vegetable shade garden. Foxgloves even though they are biennial they have beautiful flowers to brighten a shade garden. Pair them with low growing vegetables. If you like foliage Euphorbia has bright tips on every stem and blends nicely with bush bean plants. Coral Bells can be used as shade garden border.
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