Everybody loves to eat fresh garden vegetables. However, a lot of houses are surrounded by tall trees that block much of the day’s sunlight. This is great in the summertime when you want to keep your house cool but it’s not so good when we want to grow plants in our yard.
I did some research and found out we can grow vegetables in our shady backyard. The following vegetables will grow in the dappled light from our trees. With only 3 to 6 hours of sunlight each day, we can grow delicious vegetables.
What vegetables grow best in shade?
Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and kale grow best in shade. Root vegetables like carrots and beets can also grow with limited sunlight, though they may grow more slowly.
before you plan your shade vegetable garden, here are some common questions and answers that you might find useful.
Most shade-tolerant vegetables need about 3–6 hours of sunlight per day. Partial shade or filtered light is usually enough for them to grow.
Very few vegetables grow well in full shade. Most need at least some indirect light to produce healthy growth, even if they don’t require full sun.
Yes, vegetables grown in shade often take longer to mature. However, leafy greens can benefit from shade because it helps prevent them from bolting too quickly.
Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal. This gives plants enough light to grow while protecting them from strong afternoon heat.
Lettuce
Lettuce does well in a shaded vegetable garden. As long as this leafy vegetable receives some sunlight, it will produce nutritious food for your family. Grow some lettuce in your shade vegetable garden and purchase tomatoes and carrots from your local farmer’s market for a healthy salad.
Broccoli
I was very excited to learn I can grow broccoli in the shade. Broccoli is one of my favorite vegetables. It’s a healthy vegetable my family can eat raw or steamed. My toddler is also a big fan of these mini trees. Fresh, raw broccoli is another tasty addition to salad.
Cauliflower
Another shade loving vegetable is cauliflower. Like broccoli, cauliflower can be eaten raw with a healthy vegetable dip or steamed. We like to steam and mash our cauliflower as a substitute for mashed potatoes.
Swiss Chard
Chard will grow in a shade vegetable garden as well. I recently read about chard in a magazine. I had never heard of this vegetable before, but I am eager to try it this year. You can cook the leaves as you would prepare spinach and you can eat the stalks as you would eat asparagus. I am excited to try growing chard this year.
Onions
Onions can grow in partial shade. Onions can be used to season soups and steaks or they can be grilled and eaten on their own. You can plant onions with a strong flavor or sweet onions. Growing onions in your shade vegetable garden can help round out your selection.
Parsley
All right. You’ve got me. Parsley isn’t a vegetable. However, this herb can grow in partial shade and can be a flavorful addition to your shade vegetable garden. It’s always nice to have some fresh herbs on hand.
Don’t be discouraged if you have a shady yard. You can still grow healthy vegetables. By growing what you can in your shade vegetable garden and buying the rest of your vegetables from a reputable famer’s market, you will provide your family with nutritious and natural meals all season long.
Don’t let a shady yard stop you from growing your own food. These vegetables that grow in shade make it easy to start a simple, low-maintenance garden almost anywhere. Save this list so you know what to plant next, and share it with someone who thinks they don’t have enough sun to garden.
