Shady Characters: Low-Light-Tolerant Vegetables and Herbs for Your Garden

Leafy greens do better in shady conditions and lose all tenderness if they receive more than 12 hours of sunlight per day. Arjan Kemeling/Shutterstock

Shade plays a critical role in any vegetable garden. Low-light areas near structures, under trees, or even under larger crops can be used to maximize garden space. In some cases, such as balcony gardening, these areas may be the only ones available.

Not all shade is created alike. Most gardeners know that full sun is considered to be six or more hours of direct sun each day, that partial sun is four to six hours of direct sunlight each day, and that the hours don’t have to be continuous. It can be a few hours in the morning, shade midday, and the rest of the required hours in the afternoon. The many definitions of shade, however, are more complex.

Correct Terminology

To the surprise of many gardening newbies, shady locations have their sunny hours, as no plant can grow without some light. Partial shade is considered three to five hours of sun per day, and full shade is a location that gets less than three hours of sunlight daily.

And let’s not forget dappled shade, or intermittent shade, which is commonly found underneath trees or next to crops whose leaves move back and forth to create a moving pattern of sun and shade. To confuse things further, dappled shade may actually fall under full or partial sun, depending on the morning and afternoon sun exposure. Lighting can change throughout the day, so the best way to get started is to simply observe the effect of trees and other structures for a few days before adding any plants.

Greens and Roots

Some plants not only do well in shade, but they actually prefer it. Leafy greens such as leaf lettuce, spinach, arugula, kale, bok choy, mustard greens, Swiss chard, and collards are happy with three to four hours of sun per day, especially in the heat of high summer. They can do well with six to eight hours of sunlight during the cooler days of spring, but if they ever receive more than 12 hours of sunlight per day, they will enter their bloom cycle, leading to “bolting"—flowering and going to seed prematurely—which also turns the leaves bitter and tough. High heat can also cause them to bolt; unfortunately, once started, it’s too late, and there’s nothing that can be done to make the greens delicious again.

Root vegetables such as carrots, kohlrabi, beets, and turnips do most of their work under the soil, with the greens above acting as solar panels for photosynthesis. Many potato varieties, including the popular Yukon gold, can be happy with partial shade. In fact, potato tubers can change color and become toxic if they get exposed directly to too much sun. This is why home growers keep mounding up the soil or mulch over the growing plant. Sweet potatoes, which are actually in the morning glory family and not potatoes in the traditional sense, are the exception. These tropical growers love sunlight and require a minimum of six hours per day.

Peas, Beans, and Brassicas

With the exception of high-heat southern favorites such as pigeon peas, black-eyed peas (which are actually misnamed beans), and similar legume family members, most peas tend to be as sensitive as they are tasty and can survive with as little as four and no more than six hours of direct sun a day. Otherwise, they get scorched leaves, stunted growth, and poor yields.

Speaking of legumes, several varieties of beans, particularly bush beans, are quite tolerant of partial shade. Be sure they get a bare minimum of four hours. While vining beans tend to require more sun, some can be planted at the edge of partial shade/partial sun, or even in a full shade/partial sun location if their vines can quickly be trained to grow into the necessary sunlight.

Some bean varieties do well with partial shade, but still need a minimum of four hours of sunlight a day. eurobanks/Shuttertock

The happy heads of cauliflower and broccoli are known for requiring a minimum of six to eight hours of sun per day, or they’ll become weak and leggy and not deliver a full crop. Several varieties have been developed that are well-suited for partial shade. These include “early maturing” or “self-blanching” types that produce smaller heads. One bonus: These typically require a shorter growing season and offer a faster harvest.

Flavor Stars

Several varieties of herbs grow happily in the shade. JoannaTkaczuk/Shutterstock

Want to infill some more shady spaces? Herbs such as mint (particularly peppermint), Italian and flat-leaved parsley, cilantro, lemon verbena, French tarragon, dill, thyme, chives, chamomile, lemon balm, hyssop, bee balm, lovage, and catnip will be happy to move in. Other options include oregano and thyme, which really would prefer partial to full sun but are hearty enough to survive in shade with slower growth and smaller harvests.

Consider planting some outside the kitchen door—which is often an underutilized shady space—for convenient harvesting.

More or Less

Sometimes, additional sun is desired, but sometimes, more shade would be ideal. Here are some clever fixes for both situations.

Reflected Goodness

Old mirrors can be placed to reflect sunlight into a partial or full shade location, increasing usable light and planting possibilities. It’s better with milder morning light than stronger afternoon beams. Polycarbonate mirrors are more durable for outdoor use.

Man-Made Shade

Extend the growing season into the hot summer months with a 30 percent shade cloth placed over vulnerable plants or an entire planting area. It cools and protects while allowing in enough diffused light to keep most vegetables happy.

Brawnier Protection

Shade cloth in the 50 percent to 70 percent range will protect true shade lovers, such as lettuce, while helping keep the soil cooler and reducing water evaporation. Black works as well as colored fabrics and is usually cheaper.