All vegetables need sunlight to grow. However, some vegetables require less sunlight than others. Some vegetables even thrive in shadier areas of a garden. If your yard resembles mine, bushes and trees create shadier garden areas. Do not let that shade go to waste. Put your shade to good use by planting vegetables that tolerate or prefer partial sun or partial shade. Planting vegetables in the shade can be a gardening success with these simple tips and instructions.
Sunlight Levels
Before you plant any vegetables in the shade, you must first check the sun requirements of the individual plants. Full-sun vegetables need at least six hours of direct sunlight each day and will not fare well in the shade. Both partial sun and partial shade vegetables require three to six hours of direct sunlight daily. Partial-shade vegetables generally require fewer hours of sunlight than partial-sun vegetables.
Full-shade plants need a maximum of three hours of direct sunlight each day and do not tolerate sunny areas. Both partial-shade and full-shade vegetables grow well in shady gardens. Partial sun vegetables can also fare well in less shady areas.
To determine the sun requirements of a particular vegetable, check the information on the bulb or seed packets for the vegetables you want to plant in your garden. Also, know that not all shades are created equal. Even full-shade vegetables need some sunlight.
Shady areas under trees and bushes are ideal for shade vegetables because sunlight is filtered through the upper branches. Gardens along structures like fences that block the sunlight for part or most of the day also work well for shade vegetables so long as the sun is not completely blocked. Growing vegetables under any structure that completely obstructs the sun is almost impossible.
Best Shade Vegetables
Before planting in your shade garden, you must choose the vegetables you want to grow. Although many vegetable plants will grow okay in the shade, the best types of plants for shady areas are leafy green vegetables or vegetables with leafy green leaves. That way, these vegetables can also last for a long time when you store them. For instance, if you grow radishes properly, you might be able to use them for a longer period after harvesting them. You may just have to find out how to store radishes from the garden effectively.
That being said, almost all vegetables grown in shade can be stored for a longer period. Choose any of the following popular vegetables that grow well in the shade:
- Salad greens (leaf lettuce, Arugula, endive, cress, radicchio, and Mesclun)
- Leafy greens (collards, mustard greens, spinach, and kale)
- Asian greens (bok choi, komatsuna, and tatsoi)
- Swiss chard and chard
- Root vegetables (beets, radishes, carrots, potatoes, and turnips)
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Brussels sprouts
- Beans
- Peas
- Scallions
- Culinary herbs (chives, cilantro, garlic chives, golden marjoram, lemon balm, mint, oregano, and parsley)
Other Factors
When planting vegetables in the shade, you must consider two other factors. First, shady areas tend to retain moisture longer than full-sun areas. Do not water your shaded vegetables as much as you water your vegetables planted in full sun. You will run the risk of overwatering your shade garden. Water your shaded vegetables only as needed. Second, some fungi and plant diseases thrive in cool, moist, shady areas. You can reduce your risk of fungi and other plant diseases by not overwatering your shade garden.
Although many vegetables require full sun to grow properly, some popular vegetables fare well in shadier areas. I have had success growing leaf lettuce and spinach in a shady area of my yard. Planting vegetables in the shade can result in a successful garden and a bountiful harvest with these easy-to-follow gardening tips and instructions.
References
Best vegetables to grow in the shade: http://foodfreedom.wordpress.com/2011/02/16/best-vegetables-to-grow-in-the-shade/
Ten vegetables you can grow in shade: http://www.inthegardenonline.com/picks_10vegforshadeC21.htm
Image Credits
Growing Lettuce in the Shade: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lettuce_from_lalbagh_2294.JPG
