Gardening Plants & Flowers Vegetables

32 Vegetables You Can Grow in Partial Shade

Illustration of beets, broccoli, cabbage, radish, peas, spinach and brussels sprouts

The Spruce / Catherine Song

Don't lose hope on growing an abundant vegetable garden just because you don't have a sunny location; there are actually many partial shade vegetables that can grow and thrive without significant direct sunlight. Many vegetables can still produce a harvest with 4 to 6 hours of sunlight per day—or with constant dappled sunlight for the entire day.

As a basic rule of thumb, vegetables grown for their fruit or roots—such as tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, squash, potatoes, or carrots—require full sun, which is defined as a garden location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sun each day. Vegetables grown for the leaves, stems, or buds often do quite well without full sun.

Keep in mind, though, that no vegetable can thrive in deep, dense shade. While ornamental gardeners have choices for plants to grow in full shade, that's not the case for vegetable gardeners.

Ready to start a vegetable garden? Here are 32 edible plants that will produce well if they receive three to six hours of direct sunlight each day—or constant dappled light for the full day.

Full Sun vs. Partial Shade

Partial shade means just what its name would imply—it's partial shade, not full shade. And that means it will require some sun each day. However, the different between full sun and partial shade is that full sun is 6 to 8 hours of sun a day, while partial shade is 3 to 6 hours of sun a day.

Receiving some sunlight every day is critical for vegetables, which rely on the sun to convert carbon dioxide and water into the nutrients they need through photosynthesis. They need those nutrients to flower and produce the fruit that will become delicious vegetables. However, the vegetables that are not flowering plants and don't produce fruit, such as leafy greens, are often the plants that need less sunlight per day.

Growing Vegetables in Partial Shade

While growing these vegetables in a shady part of the garden is ideal, you can find successful ways to grow them in a spot where they receive direct sunlight all day if you plant at the right time and follow shade-specific recommendations for caring for your garden.

If you don't have a shady spot in which to plant within your vegetable garden layout, shade cloth will protect your brassicas, peas, greens, and lettuces from hot summer sun. You can even try seeding some in mid-season if you take measures to cool the soil before hand as many of these seeds require cooler soil to germinate. Alternately try placing the seeds in the refrigerator for several days prior to planting to aid germination.

  • Cool-season veggies don't have to be restricted to a fall vegetable garden—they can do well in partial shade during the summer 
  • Watering needs may be lower than veggies grown in full sun 
  • Plants may not produce as much vegetables or as large of vegetables as they would when grown in full sun, but readers can still harvest food from partial shade gardens 
  • Each plant’s days to harvest may be longer than it would be in full sun

Best Vegetables to Grow in Partial Shade

  • 01 of 32

    Artichoke (Cynara scolymus)

    Artichoke

    Getty Images/bigeyedboy / 500px

    Artichokes are herbaceous perennials that will tolerate partial shade, as long as they receive 6 hours of sunlight per day. With an earth, nutty flavor, artichoke heads are eaten as a delicacy that's often dipped in butter or a sauce before scraping the meat off the leaves.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 7-11
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Well-drained
    • Planting season: Late summer
    • Days to harvest: 85-100
  • 02 of 32

    Arugula (Eruca vesicaria)

    arugula

    The Spruce / K. Dave 

    Arugula is among the fastest-growing leafy greens. Arugula can have a musky odor and taste, but many find its peppery bite very refreshing. Arugula tolerates some shade but also does well in full sun, preferring 6 hours of sun a day. It is easy to grow from seed sown directly into the garden.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, tolerates part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, well-draining soil
    • Planting season: Early spring or fall
    • Days to harvest: 20-50 days
  • 03 of 32

    Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)

    beans

    The Spruce / K. Dave  

    Beans take little effort to grow, and, though they typically require 6 to 8 hours of sun a day, there are many varieties of bush beans and pole beans that can deal with some daily shade and take up very little space.

    There are many varieties of beans to choose from and are easy to grow from seed. You can even be frugal and save some beans to provide next year's seeds.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, tolerates part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, medium-moisture soil
    • Planting season: Spring
    • Days to harvest: 50-60 days
  • 04 of 32

    Beets (Beta vulgaris)

    beets growing in the garden

    The Spruce / K. Dave 

    Beets are a root vegetables that actually does well in partial shade, as long as it gets about 6 hours of sun a day. While shade may impact the size of your beetroots, the plants will still produce delicious greens.

    If you're short on space, beets can also do well in a deep container. For a continual harvest, keep planting a few seeds every week or so. Just be sure to keep them watered so the roots do not turn woody.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, tolerates part shade
    • Soil Needs: Loamy soil
    • Planting season: Spring
    • Days to harvest: 55-70
    Continue to 5 of 32 below
  • 05 of 32

    Bok Choy (Brassica rapa var. chinensis)

    Bok Choy

    Getty Images/GomezDavid

    Bok choy is typically harvested in late summer or fall during its first year of growth, and both its smooth leaves and crisp stalks can be eaten. It tolerates partial shade with 6 hours of direct sun per day, particularly in the height of summer, and also is suitable for growing in pots, as long as there is at least 20" of depth and a width of 12".

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2-11
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained
    • Planting season: Early spring, late summer, early fall
    • Days to harvest: 45
  • 06 of 32

    Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)

    broccoli

    The Spruce / K. Dave 

    Broccoli can be planted alongside the shadier edges of any garden space, though it likes to get 6 to 8 hours of sun a day. It looks fantastic when growing in a row, and with all the colorful varieties available, it adds a fun splash to a border.

    A member of the cabbage family, this is also a relatively easy plant to grow—just keep it watered, and then wait for the harvest. If you are in a hotter climate, you may even be able to sneak two crops into the extended season by replacing the old plants with new seedlings.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade (shade preferred in hot climates)
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist soil
    • Planting season: Spring to mid-summer
    • Days to harvest: 50-60
  • 07 of 32

    Carrots (Daucus carota)

    Freshly harvested carrots

    Getty Images/ Dimitrie Ragar / 500px

    Carrots are an easy to grow root vegetable that is typically harvested in its first year of growth. While the classic orange roots are instantly recognizable, they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. While they like sun, they can grow with afternoon shade and as little as 6 hours of direct sun per day.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–10 (biennial grown as an annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Loose, well-draining soil
    • Planting season: Spring and fall
    • Days to harvest: 60-80
  • 08 of 32

    Brussels Sprouts (Brassica oleracea cultivars)

    brussels sprouts

    The Spruce / K. Dave 

    Brussels sprouts, another member of the cabbage family, may take a long time to grow. But this vegetable can grow well into the cold season, and flavor actually improves after a light frost.

    This is also a plant that can maximize a shadier spot in the garden, though ideally it will get 6 hours of sun a day. Because it takes so long to mature, you can plant a different short-season crop in between the rows. Bush beans and peas are perfect.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, tolerates part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained soil
    • Planting season: Early spring to late summer
    • Days to harvest: 80-100
    Continue to 9 of 32 below
  • 09 of 32

    Celery (Apium graveolens)

    Growing celery

    Getty Images/Xvision

    While celery takes a long time to mature—130 to 140 days, it's also an easy-to-grow plant, as long as it has nutrient-rich soil. While it prefers at least 6 hours of sunlight a day, celery also does best with consistently moist soil, which is aided by a few hours of shade.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2-10 (biennial grown as an annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Compost-rich soil
    • Planting season: Spring
    • Days to harvest: 140
  • 10 of 32

    Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea cultivars)

    cauliflower

    The Spruce / K. Dave 

    Planting cauliflower as a companion plant alongside its taller, nutty-flavored cousin, broccoli, can add a splash of design to an otherwise difficult shady garden space.

    Cauliflower can tolerate some cold, so it's a good last-minute addition to the garden. It does take a little work, especially if you want white or purple cauliflower with a sweeter taste because it will need to be blanched. Once the plant begins to form the fruit, wrap the large leaves around and over the center of the plant securing them with twine. You need to check your plants periodically to make sure all parts of the growing cauliflower head are protected from direct sunlight, though the plant itself needs 6 hours of sun per day.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, tolerates part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained soil
    • Planting season: Late summer
    • Days to harvest: 80 days
  • 11 of 32

    Collard Greens (Brassica oleracea L. subsp. acephala)

    collard greens

    The Spruce / K. Dave  

    Collard greens, another cabbage relative, are among the leafy greens that fall into the class of cooking greens. It is leafy and great in a salad, but perhaps best prepared as a sautéed green dish.

    For good growth, collard greens need about 4 to 5 hours of sun for full flavor. It, too, is a good plant for colder climates.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, tolerates part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil
    • Planting season: Early spring or fall
    • Days to harvest: 60-80
  • 12 of 32

    Cress (Lepidium sativum)

    cress lettuce

    The Spruce / K. Dave  

    Cress, also known as garden cress or pepper cress, is the rare vegetable that does well in nearly full shade. It matures very fast and likes moist soils. It is known for its peppery and sometimes tangy flavor that works well in soups and stews. Young leaves are excellent in salads and for sandwiches.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Loose, well-drained soil
    • Planting season: All seasons
    • Days to harvest: 8-12
    Continue to 13 of 32 below
  • 13 of 32

    Kale (Brassica oleracea cultivars)

    kale

    The Spruce / K. Dave  

    Like other cooking greens, this cabbage cousin enjoys growing in a container and generally prefers cool soils, making it a good choice for shady locations that receive at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day. It will tolerate very cool temperatures, including light frosts.  

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained soil
    • Planting season: Spring and fall
    • Days to harvest: 55-75
  • 14 of 32

    Endive (Cichorium endivia)

    endive

    The Spruce / K. Dave 

    Endive does well with only 2 to 3 hours of daily sun. Especially in midsummer, the shade will prevent the plant from bolting (setting seeds). Better yet, endive does great in pots just like arugula, leaf lettuce, and cress, so you can fill your deck with a salad-lovers container garden.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3 to 8
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Medium moisture, well-drained soil
    • Planting season: 3 weeks before last frost
    • Days to harvest: 85-100
  • 15 of 32

    Garlic (Allium sativum)

    Garlic

    Getty Images/MagMos

    Closely related to the onion, garlic is a bulb that grows below ground. Planted in the fall, it grows slowly, providing a harvest bursting with flavor the next summer just as its bottom leaves begin to brown. While garlic prefers full sun, it can tolerate partial shade with 6 hours of sun per day.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4-9
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained
    • Planting season: Fall
    • Days to harvest: 240
  • 16 of 32

    Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea)

    Kohlrabi

    Getty Images/Catherine McQueen

    Kohlrabi may not be in your regular rotation of vegetables, but it's a great substitute for broccoli or cabbage, and its flavor is somewhere between cabbage and a turnip. When grown in partial shade with 6 hours of sun per day, the bulbs will simply be a bit smaller, but it will appreciate the cooler temperatures of shade during summer's hottest days.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2a-11b
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist loam
    • Planting season: 3-4 weeks before last frost date
    • Days to harvest: 55
    Continue to 17 of 32 below
  • 17 of 32

    Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

    lettuce

    The Spruce / K. Dave  

    Lettuce—a staple for any salad or BLT lover—is a cool-season green that dislikes too much direct sun. 6 hours per day is ideal for lettuce. Some gardeners even shelter lettuce with shade cloth to prevent it from burning out. 

    You have a few options when it comes to planting these great salad greens to enjoy them throughout the season. For instance, you can succession plant or simply use the containers as a "cut and come again" garden, picking (and using) the oldest leaves as needed.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade; prefers some shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, medium-moisture, well-drained soil
    • Planting season: Spring and fall
    • Days to harvest: 30-70
  • 18 of 32

    Leeks (Allium ampeloprasum)

    Leeks

    Getty Images/Cherrie Herrin-Michehl

    Closely related to onions, garlic, shallots, and chives, leeks look like a scallion, but on a larger scale. They don't have a bulb like an onion, but there is a white shaft, which is the part typically used in cooking. Leeks grow slowly and do best when they receive at least 6 hours of morning sun.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5-9
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained
    • Planting season: Early spring and fall
    • Days to harvest: 100-120
  • 19 of 32

    Mustard Greens (Brassica juncea, Brassica rapa subsp. perviridis)

    greens

    The Spruce / K. Dave  

    Mustard greens join collards and kale in the cooking greens category. This green tolerates partial shade, about 5 to 6 hours of sun per day, though it is also fond of full sun. Mustard greens do not do well in hot temperatures. Some mustard plants can be invasive if they escape the garden.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, tolerates part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained soil
    • Planting season: Spring and fall
    • Days to harvest: 45-50
  • 20 of 32

    Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)

    Parsnip

    Getty Images/duckycards

    Parsnips do best with 6 to 8 hours of sun a day, but can tolerate partial shade. These root vegetables look like carrots that have been totally drained of their color, but their flavor is all their own, with earth, sweet, and spicy notes.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2-9 (biennial grown as annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, moist, well-drained
    • Planting season: Spring or fall
    • Days to harvest: 120 to 180 days
    Continue to 21 of 32 below
  • 21 of 32

    Peas (Pisum sativum)

    snap peas

    The Spruce / K. Dave  

    Peas are perfect for containers and do fine in a partially shady spot, receiving about 6 hours of sun per day. The key to growing peas is timing. If you get the seeds in the soil at the right time and harvest before it gets too hot, you should have a nice crop. Peas like cool weather.

    This is also a space-saving crop. Many varieties like to climb up a trellis or some sort of support, and once they are done, you can plant a quick-growing, late-season crop like broccoli or try a second pea crop.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, tolerates part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, moisture-retentive soil
    • Planting season: Spring
    • Days to harvest: 60
  • 22 of 32

    Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)

    Freshly harvested potatoes

    Getty Images/mikroman6

    While potatoes aren't expensive to buy at the grocery store, there's a flavor from homegrown spuds that can't be beat. These cool season root vegetables prefer full sun, but they can grow in partial shade. Just make sure they are getting closer to 6 rather than 4 hours of direct sunlight per day to keep the top growth feeding the tubers beneath.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3-10 (grown as an annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Loamy
    • Planting season: Spring
    • Days to harvest: 80-100
  • 23 of 32

    Radishes (Raphanus sativus)

    radishes

    The Spruce / K. Dave 

    Radishes are another surprising root vegetable that can tolerate some shade, as long as they get 6 hours of sun per day. They also produce tasty greens that most people forget about.

    With radishes, you have many options when it comes to varieties. It is fun to sprinkle many different radishes throughout your garden. Some mature fast, some like the fall season, and the sizes vary as much as the color.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, tolerates part shade
    • Soil Needs: Sandy or loamy soil
    • Planting season: Spring
    • Days to harvest: 22-60
  • 24 of 32

    Rutabaga (Brassica napus)

    Fresh rutabagas

    Getty Images/Zhenvision

    Think of rutabagas the turnip's bigger, slow-growing cousin, with a peppery, cabbage flavor. They can take three to four months to mature, and they grow best in full sun, though they will tolerate partial shade with 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. If you leave enough room for rutabaga's three to four inch bulbs, you can grow them easily in pots.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3-9 (biennials grown as annuals)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drained 
    • Planting season: Late spring
    • Days to harvest: 80-100
    Continue to 25 of 32 below
  • 25 of 32

    Scallions (Allium fistulosum)

    Scallions

    Getty Images/by Ken Ilio

    The onion flavor of scallions is a favorite of home cooks, particularly since it's a fast growing plant that can add flavor all season long. This leafy vegetable tolerates partial shade well, though it does need direct sun for 6 hours a day to grow abundantly.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 6-9
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Sandy, loamy, well-drained
    • Planting season: Early spring to early fall
    • Days to harvest: 55

  • 26 of 32

    Sorrel (Rumex acestosa)

    Sorrel

    Getty Images/BasieB

    Sorrel's distinctive leaves with their dark purple veining, crinkle texture, and arrow shape make for a striking addition to a salad, and its pleasantly tart, lemony taste adds a unique flavor. It can tolerate partial shade, though it does best with 6 hours of sunlight per day.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 5-7
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained
    • Planting season: Early spring
    • Days to harvest: 35-40
  • 27 of 32

    Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)

    spinach

    The Spruce / K. Dave  

    Spinach does well with only 4 to 6 hours of sun and it prefers the cooler temperatures of spring and fall. Spinach—in particular, baby spinach—is a great salad green, but it is also very useful in your favorite non-salad hot recipes. Spinach likes cool weather and usually bolts (sets seed) as the weather turns hot. Plant new spinach for continued harvest.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil
    • Planting season: Early spring or fall
    • Days to harvest: 20-30
  • 28 of 32

    Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris)

    swiss chard

    The Spruce / K. Dave 

    Swiss chard leaves are a stunning color, and it's extremely easy to grow, needing hardly any maintenance. It only needs 4 to 6 hours of sun per day. You can direct sow the seeds and thin it as needed. Plus, if you cut older leaves, new ones will grow back.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2 to 11 (annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Rich, well-drained soil
    • Planting season: Spring
    • Days to harvest: 28-42
    Continue to 29 of 32 below
  • 29 of 32

    Turnips (Brassica rapa)

    Purple turnips in the ground

    Getty Images/AnthonyRosenberg

    Turnips are root vegetables known for their purple or white roots, but they also have edible leaves, which have a similar flavor to mustard greens. These quick-growing veggies mature in about two months, tolerate partial shade with 6 to 8 hours of direct sun, and do best in cool weather.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 2-10 (grown as an annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Sandy, well-draining
    • Planting season: Spring
    • Days to harvest: 40-50
  • 30 of 32

    Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)

    Asparagus

    Getty Images/Santiago Urquijo

    Asparagus is a plant designed to test your patience. After planting, you'll have to wait three entire growing seasons before you can harvest its spears. If you try before then, you could injure or kill the plant. But it's worth it when you get those delicious summery spears. Asparagus needs 8 hours of sunlight, but can tolerate partial shade. That will, however, impact its yield.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3-10
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Sandy, loamy
    • Planting season: Spring or fall
    • Days to harvest: Three years after planting
  • 31 of 32

    Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)

    Tomatoes

    Getty Images/Maria Korneeva

    Nothing says summer like a juicy tomato, still warm from summer's beating sun. So it's no surprise most tomatoes need full sun, at least 6 hours a day. However, some varieties, like Roma tomatoes or Black Krim, can tolerate partial shade.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 3-11 (grown as an annual)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Loamy, well-drainined
    • Planting season: Late spring or early summer
    • Days to harvest: 60-85
  • 32 of 32

    Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus)

    Cucumbers

    Getty Images/michal812

    The crisp, cool, refreshing taste of cucumbers is one of those quintessentially summer flavors, and these easy-to-grow plants are a favorite of gardeners. Cucumbers will thrive with 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight a day, however they can tolerate less in shady conditions. Expect less fruit if a cucumber gets less sun.

    • USDA Growing Zones: 4-12
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
    • Soil Needs: Loose, well-drained, nutrient rich
    • Planting season: Late spring to early summer
    • Days to harvest: 50-70 days