Vegetables and Herbs For Partial Shade

You may think because your yard gets only partial sun and has a lot of shade that you can’t grow vegetables or herbs. You are in luck! Many vegetables such as greens and root crops grow well in part shade.

You can click on the vegetable names to read the full length garden guide.

What is Partial Shade?

Partial shade is 3 - 5 hours of sun a day. Full sun, which is what we think is necessary for most garden plants is 6 - 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.

Morning sunlight provides high-intensity light without excessive heat and is perfect for cool-loving plants like greens and peas.

I can tell you I have grown lots of veggies on a patio that faces east.

Spring garden getting going. May 15, 2023.

Afternoon sunlight doesn’t provide the same light intensity but is generally warmer than the morning sunlight. Many herbs will often do well in the afternoon sun.

Observe

Spend some time observing your yard and how the sun goes over your home or other large buildings or trees. For now, I'm assuming you have shady spots in your garden or have containers on a patio that get a mix of sun and shade.

You will need to take a good look at your green space or yard and decide where you can grow things. In urban areas buildings and mature trees are going to provide shade. You may live in the woods.

Map out where you have shade and when. Watch how your space changes as the sun moves from east to west.

Use buildings and trees to your advantage by developing areas that receive different amounts of light and putting in plants that thrive there. Keep in mind that some plants may grow a tad slower in the shade.

Moisture

Even if you are gardening in partial shade you still need to consider the moisture needs of the plants. A garden in the morning sun will not lose as much water to evaporation as a garden in the afternoon sun.

If you are using a drip irrigation system your shade garden will need to be separate from the full sun garden since they will need different levels of moisture. When hand watering remember to water the ground, not the plant.

Check out my video on vegetables that grow in shade.

17 Vegetables That Thrive in Partial Shade

These 17 vegetables can tolerate less direct sunlight compared to full-sun varieties and can thrive in areas with dappled or filtered sunlight throughout the day.

1. Arugula

So we are going to start with some classic greens that are fabulous to grow for salads and cooking.

Arugula is a crisp lesser-known green that many people don't grow but it’s well worth the time and space. It grows fast and adds a peppery flavor to meals. It is in the brassica family and grows well in cool weather.

Arugula grows well in a shady spot and will thrive with as little as 3 hours of sun a day. Morning sun is best but if you have an area that gets late afternoon sun that will work as well.

They will germinate well in temperatures between 40–55°F. Seeds take about one week to germinate. Plant seeds about half an inch deep, in the potting soil or directly in the garden. Space them about 6 inches apart.

2. Beans

Bush beans will actually handle some shade. Not pole beans they prefer full sun. But bush beans can go down to about 5 hours a day of sun. But know that production may be lower.

These beans grow about two feet tall and don’t need support. They form a small bush shape and are easy to maintain. However, picking them means bending over and crawling up and down rows.

For direct sowing in traditional rows maintain a spacing of 3 to 4 inches apart between the plants. For the rows, you should maintain a spacing of 2 – 3 feet apart. After planting them directly in the soil, cover them with soil to ensure the seed is about 1 inch deep.

Observe proper spacing for beans to allow for good air circulation. This helps protect them from viruses.

3. Beets

Beets will grow well in partial shade however, the less sun the smaller the beets will be. But the greens which are edible will grow well.

So 3-4 hours a day for the wonderful greens and small baby beets. 5 hours of sun a day for full-sized beets.

Beet seeds are a compound seed that actually contain 3-5 seeds. Thinning is a must. If they are growing too close together they will not form beets.

Thin beets three inches apart for smaller varieties and four inches for larger ones. Plant rows twelve inches apart.

Beets generally take 55 - 65 days to maturity. However, in less sun you may need to add about ten days to that.

Beets are a fabulous crop to grow.

4. Belgium Endive

Belgium’s endive is a two-step process. The plant is grown as a green initially. Then the roots are placed in a cool dark place where they will make a head.

Belgium endive must have shade to grow! Often we do the shade part inside in a dark location especially if we live in a climate where winters get below freezing.

5. Broccoli

Broccoli grows best in full sun, with at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. However, in very hot climates, partial shade from the afternoon sun may be necessary to prevent the plant from bolting, or flowering and going to seed. 

Cabbage does not do as well in shade as some of the other brassicas.

6. Carrots

Carrots are a bit fussier than beets when it comes to light. They definitely need closer to 5 or even 6 hours of sun each day.

Shorter or smaller round carrots do better than full-length ones. Carrot seeds take 10-14 days to germinate so be patient. Thin to two to three inches apart with rows twelve inches apart.

My Swiss chard and kale Photo credit: Ame Vanorio

7. Chard (Swiss chard)

Swiss chard needs a bit more sun than arugula and does best with at least 5 hours of sun. They will hold up to the afternoon sun as well. Chard can grow in 3-4 hours of sun but that is pushing it and the stalks will be much thinner.

I love Swiss chard for its fun colors and ability to stand up and remain firm during cooking. Swiss chard is great braised and goes well with pasta!

Plant seeds about half an inch down. When chard seedlings start to make true leaves I like to give some fertilizer. Chard does like its nutrients. I typically use half-strength fish emulsion or a fish kelp blend. They are related to beets and thinning is important.

Transplant out 6" apart in rows 16" apart. They like a neutral pH and compost-rich soil. Water in well.

I plant out in early to mid-April under row cover.

8. Green Onions

Onions are a mixed bag. If you just want to use the stems that works. Green onions will tolerate partial shade but if you are going for a full-sized onion it needs full sun.

The stems are great for chopping up and flavoring dishes. You can start onions in so many ways. From seeds, sets, or transplants. Most varieties can be grown as green onions.

9. Kale

Kale is another crop that will thrive in only 3-4 hours of sun a day. It loves the morning sun and is very productive and hardy. I often grow it like a green but it's in the brassica family along with cabbage and broccoli. Kales's ideal growing temperature is 55–75°F.

Kale will even tolerate frost and light snow. It will die back when temps get below 32 consistently. Providing a heavy layer of straw mulch around plants will help extend the season. Start seeds 4-6 weeks before your last frost.

Kale likes rich soil so lots of compost. They also need calcium so bone meal is a good additive. Greensand will add nutrients and loosen up heavy clay soil.

10. Kohlrabi

If you are not familiar with kohlrabi it is a brassica and forms a bulb-shaped stem just above the ground. It has a tough outer layer which we peel off and then eat the tender juicy flesh inside.

Kohlrabi does fine in partial shade. It does need at least 4-5 hours of sun but it also likes cool weather. So the morning sun is best.

I have a funny kohlrabi story that you can read in my growing guide.

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11. Lettuce (especially leaf lettuce varieties)

Lettuce comes in hundreds of varieties and it's definitely worth taking the time to read descriptions. That way you can find the lettuce that is best for your growing areas. Lettuce will thrive in 3 - 5 hours of sun.

Lettuce likes to grow fast so make sure you have a growing bed prepared. Mix in lots of compost to add nutrients and maintain moisture consistency.

Most lettuce prefers a cool growing temperature between 60 - 70 degrees Fahrenheit. A shady garden will help your lettuce stay happy all summer.

Cutting lettuce can be planted densely. I love growing a mix of colors. Plant very shallow about 1/4 of an inch deep. I typically make a small indentation with the eraser side of a pencil, place the seed in the indentation, and sprinkle some soil on top.

My lettuce under shade cloth. Photo credit: Ame Vanorio

12. Mustard Greens

Mustard greens are a true southern favorite and we often think of them as growing in a sunny field. However, they thrive in partial sun of about 5 hours a day and will do well if you have a spot getting afternoon sun.

Mustard greens come in several leaf shapes and colors. Red Giant on the left is my personal favorite and has a mild mustard flavor. They have better heat tolerance than other varieties. Scarlett Frills which has ruffled leaves looks great in salads.

You can grow mustard greens for baby leaf which takes about 3 weeks or allow the plant to get to full size. Maturity takes between 35 - 45 days depending on the variety. They like a germination temperature on the cool side of about 55 - 65 degrees F and emerge after 7 - 10 days. Sow seeds about 1/2 an inch in loose soil. If you direct sow you can sow seeds in the ground 2 weeks before the last frost date.

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13. Peas

Peas, please! Peas are a crop we don't often associate with shade. However, they will do quite well in part shade as long as they get 4 - 5 hours of sun. I had sugar peas last year on my patio that got about 4.5 hours of morning sun and actually did better than the ones in the main garden.

While peas are traditionally planted directly in the soil, I have successfully transplanted sugar peas. This extends the season by a couple of weeks and gets the plants off to a solid start. I typically plant in pots around March 1st in a warm room.

Space seeds 2-3 inches apart and in rows that are 24 inches apart for bush types.

14. Peppers

So my surprise shade plant is peppers! So as you may know I had surgery last spring which definitely inhibited my gardening. So I put a lot more emphasis on the patio garden because it was easy to get to and take care of.

I grew two types of peppers that literally thrived. So on the left are banana peppers in a grow bag that got about 5 hours of morning sun a day compared to the same variety in the main garden in full sun.

These bell peppers were even closer to the building getting about 4.5 hours of morning sun and produced spectacular.

Last year’s peppers, grown on my patio which gets morning sun. Photo credit: Ame Vanorio

15. Radishes

And of course, we can not leave out radishes. They grow fast and thrive in shade. Radishes will grow well with only 3 hours of sun a day.

There are many types of radishes. Daikon radishes are a sweeter variety.

Radish should never be limited to just salads. There are a lot of ways to use radishes and in fact, when I was writing my book Growing Vegetables in Zone 6 I discovered several new ways. Like these Carnitas tacos. And pickling them for tasty snacks.

Direct sow radishes. Seeds one inch apart in rows four inches wide for the round ones. For larger root-style radishes seeds are three inches and rows sixteen inches apart.

16. Spinach

Like lettuce, spinach can be planted fairly close together. It will do well with at least 4 - 5 hours of sun and like most greens thrives in the morning sun. It likes afternoon shade in late spring because it’s a cool weather crop.

Germination is best between 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit. It will even germinate in soil temps in the 40s but much slower. When temps climb above 75 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 Celcius the germination rate seriously declines.

17. Turnips

Turnips also have tasty leaves. Hakurei is the turnips that made me a convert. A small salad type they are just delicious. Only 38 days to maturity and the tops are also good. Plus they will do well in part shade so 4-5 hours for the smaller turnips.

The larger turnips do need more light to reach their full size so maybe stick with the smaller ones.

Pests in shade Areas

Slugs are basically snails without shells. Because they have no natural protection they feed at night which can make them hard to spot in the garden. And the bad news is both snails and slugs love shady areas.

Slugs hide during the day in cool moist spots in your garden. So keeping a weed-free garden, especially around vulnerable plants like lettuces is important.

Mulch has many benefits for plants such as keeping in moisture and discouraging weeds. Just remember that it also provides a lovely habitat for slugs.

So for bad infestations, I use Sluggo which is an OMRI organic product. Sluggo is made of iron phosphate. It's granular and you sprinkle it on the soil. Supposedly it's safe for pets and wildlife. For more tips on getting rid of slugs check out my video called Natural Ways to get rid of slugs in your garden.

Another way to expose pests is to till the soil. If you are in a woodsy area you should till shallow so you are not chopping up the roots of trees and bushes. Not only can this damage the tiller but can encourage spreading into the garden area. One benefit of a woodsy garden is that you encourage birds which will prey on garden damaging insects.

Herbs That Thrive In Shade

Herbs are great for both cooking and natural home health care. Today we are going to talk about 9 herbs that grow well in partial sun slash partial shade - so between 3 - 5 hours of sunlight each day.

All the herbs I'm talking about today are perennials with the exception of cilantro and parsley. Most will thrive in zones 4 - 9. Herbs are in alphabetical order.

1. Chives

Chives are a great seasoning plant and bring a fresh onion-like flavor to dishes. They do fabulous in containers and on the ground. Chives love cool weather and they do great in partial shade with 4 - 5 hours of sunlight.

Common chives produce pretty flowers which are edible. Now I should note that the more shade the fewer flowers they may produce. They like cool weather and can get planted out when the soil temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit or 14.5 degrees Celcius.

I bring a pot of my chives in during the winter and set them under plant lights. They do grow slower but more than enough for me to cut some when I'm baking potatoes or adding to tomato soup.

2. Cilantro (Coriander)

Cilantro is an annual. It does well in partial shade and will be happy with either morning or afternoon sun. Cilantro and coriander are different parts of the same plant. We refer to the vegetative stage or leaves as cilantro.

When the plant makes flowers and is pollinated it produces seeds. Those seeds are the spice coriander.

Plant several plants and in that way, you can have one or two for leaf cuttings and one or two that you allow to bolt and go to seed. Cilantro is well known as a flavoring in Mexican dishes while coriander seeds are more common in Middle Eastern dishes often mixed with cumin and cinnamon.

3. Lemon Balm

I just love the way lemon balm smells! I had one growing inside but it died possibly because the cats thought it tasted good (it is cat safe) but I also think it needed more humidity.

Anyhoo, its a hardy perrenial outside and will do well if it has morning sun and afternoon shade. It does need at least 4 - 5 hours of sun a day.

Lemon balm is an easy keeper. You can start from seed or buy a seedling at your garden store. They like a neutral pH and don’t need much in the way of fertilizer. I just mulch with some compost in spring. Please give this video a thumbs up if it is helping you out.

If allowed lemon balm can get tall and bushy up to 3 feet. But it responds well to pruning. There is a dwarf cultivar called Compacta. Also if you let it flower the leaf quality will diminish.

You can make balms! lemon balm makes great lip ointment and moisturizing cream. And it’s great for cooking. If you are a meat eater it goes well with pork and chicken dishes. Also adds a fun fruity taste to salads.

4. Mint

Mints are fabulous shade crops. There are literally hundreds of mints. I can tell you I have grown chocolate mint, peppermint, and pineapple mint in a herb garden spot that received morning shade and afternoon sun. Most mints need 4-5 hours of sun but remember they also need to be moist.

Mint has a well-deserved reputation as an invassive maniac. So they are excellent in pots on patios or a dedicated raised bed.

Mints are very hardy and tolerate a wide range of soils and temperatures. However, they all need to be kept moist. 1 to 2 inches of water per week. Flowering reduces the oil in the leaves and diminish the flavor.

That said bees love the flowers and they attract a range of beneficial insects. So I always allow some of mine to flower. Read my blog on raising honeybees.

Mint is used in so many ways. Im sure I dont need to list them all but I will say that I love mint tea. Hot or cold.

5. Parsley

Parsley is known as a garnish but don't let that limit you. Stick a big handful in your salad or stew. Parsley is a biennial and depending on where you live can be grown as an annual or perennial. It is cold sensitive and does well in partial shade with at least 5 hours of sun a day.

It can be cranky about being transplanted so you might want to direct seed it after the last frost when the soil temperature reaches 60 degrees F or 15.5 degrees Celcius. But for earlier plants sow inside about one month before the last frost date. It is slow to germinate so be patient. Parsley likes well-drained soil that is rich in compost.

Parsley also does great in pots.You can put it on the patio for the summer and in winter bring it in and put it by the window. I often put mine under grow lights.

6. Thyme

Thyme is a great herb that brings dishes alive. Once established it's a hardy perennial. It does best when it gets at least 4 and preferably 5 hours of sun.

Thyme can be finiky to start from seed so its easiest just to buy a plant online or from you local garden store. Thyme handles heat better then many herbs so if you have a spot that gets morning shade and afternoon sun that will be perfect.

Because of its creepy nature thyme looks great in rock gardens and does well in tiered gardens. I once had a brick walkway with thyme alongside it and mint behind it. Looked and smelled fabulous.

Medicinal Herbs That Thrive in Shade

Certain medicinal herbs are well-suited for growing in shaded areas, making them an ideal choice for gardeners with limited sunlight. Herbs such as ginseng, ginger, and turmeric are known to thrive in shade conditions, making them a valuable addition to a shaded herb garden.

7. Black Cohosh

Black Cohosh is a woodland herb that is native to eastern North America. It has been used in traditional medicine for many thousands of years and also has commercial value. It can be hard to find but Prarie Nursery was carrying it at the time I made this video.

It produces beautiful and fragrant flowers which bloom midsummer for about three weeks. And is the host of the Appalachian Azure butterfly. Black cohosh is a woodland plant and loves shade. It will do fabulous with only 2-3 hours per day of sun.

Native Americans used it for arthritis pain, cough, and a host of gynecological conditions. Today it is a popular natural remedy for menstrual cramps and menopausal symptoms and is widely available as a tea and in capsules.

8. Ginseng:

This herbaceous perennial is prized for its medicinal properties and is often grown in shady woodland areas. Ginseng prefers moist, well-drained soil and dappled sunlight, making it an excellent choice for shady garden spots.

American Ginseng

Panax quinquefolius is native to the Appalachian mountains. It is a medicinal herb. There are also Asian varities that have similar growing needs.

Ginseng can be grown indoors in containers or outdoors in partial to full shade with good air circulation. They will want a space that is 70% shade so maybe a bit of morning sun.

You can purchase seeds or roots. They prefer a light loam soil with lots of compost and a soil pH of 5.0-6.0, so on the acid side. Read my blueberry article to get some tips on how to lower your pH. Give roots three years to get established before harvesting in the fall.

Ginseng has many health benefits and Ill link some research below. Ginseng contains antioxcidents and is good for supporting the immune system.

One of its most popular benefits is increasing energy. You can use the fresh roots to make tea or even eat them raw.

9. Ginger:

Like many herbs, ginger is both culinary and medicinal. There are many kinds of ginger and some are more ornamental and some are more geared towards food production. For food, you want the Zingiber officinale species. They do best with morning sun and afternoon shade.

Known for its culinary and medicinal uses, ginger is a tropical herb that can be successfully grown in partial to full shade. The plant thrives in warm, humid conditions, making it a versatile option for shaded gardens.

Ginger can be grown from rhizomes purchased at supermarkets but make sure it is organic or it may have been treated with growth inhibitors. Look for firm, large, pump rhizomes. They should be soaked for several hours in warm water before planting. Place the rhizomes about an inch deep in warm soil with the growth buds pointing upward. A 14-inch pot easily holds three average rhizomes.

Technically ginger is a rhizome, which is an underground stem, and not a root. They can grow outside in zones 7b - 11 or in a warm greenhouse. They like soil temps between 68 - 74 degrees farenheight. They also do well as a houseplant. Plants grow shoots 3-4 feet tall from the rhizomes and form a dense clump.

Ginger offers many health benefits which have been confirmed by scientific research. It contains the compound Gingerol which has many gastrointestinal benefits such as releaving nausea, gas, bloat, and also morning sickness. Ginger also contains antioxidants. So grate ginger into your cooking or make a nice tea with ginger and lemon.

10. Turmeric: Another tropical herb, turmeric is a member of the ginger family and is valued for its anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric thrives in shaded areas with rich, well-draining soil, making it a popular choice for shaded herb gardens.

By choosing medicinal herbs that are well-suited for shade, gardeners can create a productive and diverse herb garden even in areas with limited sunlight. With proper care and attention to each herb's specific growing requirements, gardeners can enjoy a bountiful harvest of medicinal herbs grown in the shade.

Ame Vanorio is the founder of Fox Run EEC and has spent 29 years living off-grid farming organically and saving wildlife. Check out her Amazon Author Page.