12 Vegetables You Can Grow in Shady Spots for Fresh, Homegrown Harvests

Most vegetables grow best in full sun—at least six hours of direct sunlight each day—but for gardens with limited exposure, there are shade-tolerant options. Unlike sun-loving tomatoes, peppers, squash, and cucumbers, which require full sunlight to mature and produce fruit, vegetables that grow in the shade are primarily grown for their leaves or roots. These vegetables, herbs, and legumes thrive admirably with just three to five hours of direct sun or dappled sunlight throughout the day. In fact, a bit of shade may extend their harvest season by delaying bolting, which occurs when plants flower and go to seed.

Don’t let a little shade keep you from growing veggies; just be sure to pick the right ones. Here are some suggestions.

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Lettuce

Credit: Kindra Clineff

Like most leafy greens, lettuce is a vegetable that grows in the shade, requiring just three to four hours of direct sunlight, and you have different harvesting options. You can thin them as baby greens, harvest the entire mature head, or snip off the outer leaves, leaving the inner leaves intact. Loose-leaf types, such as romaine, green leaf, and red leaf, are the best options for part shade. Many lettuce varieties offer different leaf colors and shapes, so plant several to add pizzazz to your garden and your salads.

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Spinach

Credit: Denny Schrock

Spinach is a cool-season crop that can be grown for a spring or fall harvest. The spring crop will likely last longer in a partly shaded garden because it will be slower to bolt. Part shade is even more helpful for the fall crop since it’s sown in late summer when temperatures are high—shade keeps the soil cooler, which helps germination and early growth.

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Herbs

Credit: Bob Stefko

Several commonly used herbs thrive in partial shade, provided they get about four to five hours of direct sunlight daily. Basil, chives, parsley, chervil, and cilantro are good candidates, and they are easy enough for beginners to grow. To save space, grow several shade-tolerant herbs together in a large container (such as a half whiskey barrel) with some well-draining potting mix. Then, harvest as needed to add flavor to your meals throughout the summer.

Tip

Shade-grown herbs tend to grow leggy as they reach for the sun. To prevent this and encourage bushier growth, trim tall stems and pinch back leaves above the leaf nodes.

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Peas

Credit: Bob Stefko

Peas of all types (garden peas, snap peas, and snow peas) are cool-season vegetables that grow in the shade. These protein-rich crops get started in early spring—often before deciduous trees leaf out, which may give your plants a boost of sunshine early in the season. Then, as spring progresses and the peas mature, the shade provided by nearby trees may help extend their harvest.

Related: 10 Best Companion Plants for Peas

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Bush Beans

Credit: Bob Stefko

Bush beans and pole beans are also excellent vegetables to grow in shade if they receive at least five hours of sunlight. It may take a bit longer for your crop to mature in partial shade, but once the beans start to develop, plants should continue to produce for several weeks.

Tip

Beans and peas have similar growing needs, so they make excellent companion plants. You can use the same trellis system to support both plants and plant them in succession (peas first) to extend the harvest season.

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Radishes

Credit: Cameron Sadeghpour

Radishes are another vegetable that grows in shade—but they grow best in temperatures between 50 and 65°F. Though they are technically sun-loving plants that need about four to five hours of sunlight to produce their tasty bulbs, hot weather causes radishes to go to seed. So, a bit of shade can prevent bolting and keep the soil cooler, extending their harvest and yielding tender, flavorful roots. Sow in the spring before the trees leaf out so your radishes benefit from extra sunshine early in their growth cycle.

Related: 10 Best Radish Companion Plants to Grow Together

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Turnips

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Like radishes, turnips thrive in cooler temperatures and can be planted for a spring or fall harvest. When the seedlings are three to four inches tall, thin the plants so they’re two to four inches apart. This will encourage healthy root development. And don’t forget that turnip greens can be eaten raw in salads, sandwiches, and wraps or cooked and added to soups, stews, and noodle bowls.

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Beets

Credit: Bob Stefko

Although their roots may not get as large as those grown in full sun, beets will produce a good crop with just four or five hours of sunlight each day. They are a cool-season crop that can be sown directly in the soil two to three weeks before the last expected frost and again in late summer for a fall crop. Thin seedlings to about three inches apart, and don’t forget that beet leaves can also be eaten. Young beet leaves are great additions to salads and stir-fries.

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Green Onions

Credit: Bob Stefko

Green onions, also known as scallions, spring onions, or bunching onions, are easy-to-manage vegetables that grow in shade as long as they get at least four hours of sunlight per day. They can be started indoors, sown directly in the ground, or even grown from leftover onion scraps. If you start from seed, thin the young seedlings so that your plants are about two inches apart—and use the thinned bits in salads, omelets, or as a garnish. Sow new seeds every few weeks from early spring through summer for a continuous harvest.

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Kale

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

Kale is a hearty vegetable that grows in shade and thrives in cooler temperatures. In mild regions, it may even survive winter and provide a very long harvest season. There are several types of kale to choose from, ranging in color from bright green to dark purple and almost blue. Sow outdoors in early spring and again in summer for a fall/winter crop. As your kale grows, harvest the outer leaves individually, and the plant will continue to produce new leaves from the center.

Tip

Plant kale alongside green onions and other alliums, such as chives and leeks, to repel common pests like cabbage loopers and aphids.

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Swiss Chard

Credit: Brie Williams

Closely related to beets, Swiss chard is a cool-season veggie that is more tolerant of heat than most leafy greens. But it’s an excellent vegetable to grow in shade, ideally with a daily dose of four to five hours of sunlight. The leaves and celery-like stems of Swiss chard can be eaten raw or cooked. Also, because there are attractive, colorful varieties of Swiss chard, such as rainbow chard, it’s also a good candidate for mixing into an ornamental garden or container planting.

Related: 25 Colorful Container Garden Recipes for Shade That Are Easy to Grow

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Arugula

Credit: Bob Stefko

The peppery flavor of this fast-growing green actually benefits from the shade, keeping it from getting too spicy. Arugula can—and should—be sown in early spring and again in fall. Sow several plantings at two-week intervals to extend the harvest season. Leaves taste best when harvested young, less than three inches long.

Related: What Is Arugula? Discover What Makes This Leafy Green Special

The above crops are among the best vegetables that grow in shade. But if you’re feeling adventurous, there are plenty of other crops that will thrive in shady corners, nooks, and garden boxes:

Other leafy greens, such as mustard greens, as well as firm-headed crops like cabbage, do well in shady areas

Cool-season vegetables, such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts, and root crops like rutabagas and potatoes, thrive in areas where shade helps maintain soil moisture.

Select plants with similar growth habits to achieve the highest yield. And, whatever you plant, make sure to leave lots of space between your plants (or thin them as they germinate) to allow maximum light penetration.

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