What Can You Grow In Shady Areas?

By Erica Groneman

All vegetables and herbs need at least some sunlight each day to thrive, but if you have a part of your yard or garden that is shaded part or most of the time by a natural or manmade structure, don’t cast that area off as not cultivable. There is a variety of shade-tolerant crops that can thrive in these conditions.

In general, if a vegetable has a blossom (like squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, or melons), it needs full sun. However, veggies that grow underground (like leeks, onions, or root vegetables) do well in shade. Others that grow well in the shade include vegetables that love cold weather (like peas, beans, and herbs). Brassicas (like broccoli, cauliflower, or kohlrabi) are also very shade tolerant. Look for varieties that are part-sun or shade tolerant when you are planning and planting your garden.

By being aware of the sunlight in various areas of your yard, you can optimize your garden space, maximize your crop, and ensure the best chance of success for your plants to thrive. To help you gain a better understanding of how to track the sunlight in your own garden, or potential garden keep an eye out for our Sun Mapping post.

Happy Gardening!