Contrary to popular belief, an area of garden that receives as little as two hours of direct sunlight a day can still grow vegetables.
Vegetables grown for their leaves and roots are the best choices for shady gardens. Salad greens such as lettuce, spinach, cabbage and celery can be grown in shaded gardens. Root crops such as beetroot, leeks, potatoes and turnips can be grown in shady gardens.
Rather than choosing crops that will struggle in a shady garden, choose crops that are adapted to the shade.
List of vegetables that grow well in the shade :
Broccoli
Arugula
Beetroot
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Swiss chard
Chinese cabbage
Endive
Escarole
Garlic
Horseradish
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Leeks
Mustard
Spinach
Parsnips
Peas
Potatoes
Radishes
Rutabagas
Green onions
Salsify
Sorrel
Turnips
Watercress
Vegetables that tolerate partial shade :
Beans
Summer squash
Tomatoes, varieties that ripen quickly
Herbs that will grow in the shade :
Angelica
Basil
catnip
chervil
Chives
Cockmint (Costmary)
Garden cress
Germander
Horseradish
Lemon balm
Lovage
Mint
Parsley
Rosemary
Sweet flag
Sweet woodruff
Valerian
Tips for growing vegetables in the shade:
Choose vegetables and herbs suited to the shade, don't try to grow crops that require full sun. The first step in growing vegetables in the shade is to choose the right vegetables. Some plants need more sun than others to grow, so make sure you choose vegetables that are well adapted to low-light conditions. Greens such as spinach, lettuce, chard, cabbage, radishes, carrots, green onions and herbs such as parsley, basil, thyme and chives grow well in the shade.
Prepare the soil. As with all plants, it's important to prepare the soil before planting your vegetables. The soil should be well-drained and rich in nutrients and organic matter. Add compost, well-decomposed manure or other organic amendments to improve soil quality and provide essential nutrients for the plants.
