For gardeners who thought vegetable growing was off-limits due to shady yards or limited sun exposure, think again! There’s an incredible array of edible delights that don’t just tolerate shade but positively flourish in its filtered rays. From leafy greens bursting with nutrients to hearty root crops and cold-hardy brassicas, these 18 shade-tolerant vegetables unlock a world of gardening possibilities no matter how much or how little sun graces your patch of land.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll unveil the perfect timing to start each crop from seed—whether sowing them directly in the garden or jumpstarting them indoors. You’ll learn the ideal windows for cool-season and warm-season shade-tolerant vegetables based on your USDA Hardiness Zone. But most exciting? How quickly these low-light champs go from seed to plate!
Get ready to rethink what’s possible in your shady garden sanctuary! With proper planning and our expert guidance, you’ll soon be savoring an endless bounty of shade-tolerant vegetables.
Table of Contents
Shade-Tolerant Vegetables
Here’s additional information for each vegetable, such as the hours of light needed, the best varieties to grow in a shade or partial shade garden, the best time to start seeds, and days to maturity for harvest time guidance.
Here is a list of 18 shade-tolerant vegetables that generally thrive in partial to full shade:
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Kale
- Arugula
- Swiss Chard
- Collard Greens
- Beets
- Radishes
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Green Onions
- Peas
- Brussels Sprouts
- Parsley
- Endive
- Turnips
Let’s see each of them in detail.
Lettuce
Many varieties of lettuce, especially loose-leaf types, can tolerate and even thrive in partial shade.
- Light: 4-6 hours of daily sunlight
- Water: Keep soil consistently moist. Water in the morning to allow foliage to dry.
- Varieties to grow: Butterhead, Romaine, Looseleaf
- Days to Maturity: 45-60 days
- Season for sowing seeds: Early spring or late summer for fall harvest.
Learn How to Grow Buttercrunch Lettuce.
Spinach
Spinach is a cool-season green that can grow well in shaded areas. It is one of the shade-tolerant vegetables that generally thrive in partial to full shade.
- Light: 4-6 hours of daily sunlight
- Water: Keep soil consistently moist. Mulching can help retain moisture.
- Varieties to grow: Bloomsdale, Tyee, Space
- Days to Maturity: 40-50 days
- Season for sowing seeds: Early spring or late summer for fall harvest.
Kale
Kale is a hardy, leafy green that can tolerate shade and continue to grow.
- Light: 4-6 hours of daily sunlight
- Water: Regular watering, especially during dry periods.
- Varieties to grow: Lacinato (Dinosaur), Curly Kale, Red Russian
- Days to Maturity: 55-75 days
- Season for sowing seeds: Early spring or late summer for fall harvest.
Learn How to Grow Kale.
Arugula
Arugula is a peppery green that does well in partial shade. It is among the shade-tolerant vegetables that generally thrive in various levels of shade.
- Light: 4-6 hours of daily sunlight
- Water: Keep soil consistently moist.
- Varieties to grow: Astro, Rocket, Wild
- Days to Maturity: 21-40 days
- Season for sowing seeds: Early spring or late summer for fall harvest.
Learn How to Grow Arugula from Seeds.
Swiss Chard
Swiss chard is a resilient leafy green that can adapt to different light conditions.
- Light: 4-6 hours of daily sunlight
- Water: Regular watering and mulching can help retain moisture.
- Varieties to grow: Bright Lights, Fordhook Giant, Ruby Red
- Days to Maturity: 50-60 days
- Season for sowing seeds: Early spring or late summer for fall harvest.
Learn How to Grow Swiss Chard.
Collard Greens
Collard greens are another leafy green that can do well in shaded areas.
- Light: 4-6 hours of daily sunlight
- Water: Keep soil consistently moist.
- Varieties to grow: Georgia Southern, Vates, Champion
- Days to Maturity: 55-85 days
- Season for sowing seeds: Early spring or late summer for fall harvest.
Beets
Beets are root vegetables that can tolerate some shade.
- Light: 4-6 hours of daily sunlight
- Water: Keep soil consistently moist and avoid overwatering to prevent rot.
- Varieties to grow: Detroit Dark Red, Golden, Chioggia
- Days to Maturity: 50-70 days
- Season for sowing seeds: Early spring or late summer for fall harvest.
Radishes
Radishes are quick-growing root vegetables that can thrive in partial shade.
- Light: 4-6 hours of daily sunlight
- Water: Keep soil consistently moist.
- Varieties to grow: Cherry Belle, French Breakfast, Daikon
- Days to Maturity: 20-30 days
- Season for sowing seeds: Early spring or late summer for fall harvest.
Learn How to Grow Radishes.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a cool-season vegetable that can grow in shaded areas.
- Light: 4-6 hours of daily sunlight
- Water: Maintain consistent soil moisture.
- Varieties to grow: Snowball, Purple of Sicily, Cheddar
- Days to Maturity: 50-85 days
- Season for sowing seeds: Indoors in early spring for transplanting or late summer for fall harvest.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a cold-tolerant vegetable that can handle some shade.
- Light: 4-6 hours of daily sunlight
- Water: Consistent moisture is crucial, especially during head development.
- Varieties to grow: Calabrese, De Cicco, Belstar
- Days to Maturity: 60-90 days
- Season for sowing seeds: Indoors in early spring for transplanting or late summer for fall harvest.
Learn How to Grow Broccoli.
Cabbage
Cabbage is a cool-season crop that can be grown in partial shade.
- Light: 4-6 hours of daily sunlight
- Water: Consistent moisture, especially during head development.
- Varieties to grow: Early Jersey Wakefield, Red Express, Savoy
- Days to Maturity: 50-100 days
- Season for sowing seeds: Indoors in early spring for transplanting or late summer for fall harvest.
Carrots
Carrots can tolerate some shade and are well-suited for growing in containers. They are also among the shade-tolerant vegetables that generally thrive in various light conditions.
- Light: 4-6 hours of daily sunlight
- Water: Keep soil consistently moist. Water deeply to encourage root development.
- Varieties to grow: Danvers, Nantes, Chantenay
- Days to Maturity: 50-80 days
- Season for sowing seeds: Early spring or late summer for fall harvest.
Green Onions
Green onions, or scallions, can grow in partial shade.
- Light: 4-6 hours of daily sunlight
- Water: Regular watering.
- Varieties to grow: Evergreen, White Lisbon, Red Beard
- Days to Maturity: 60-90 days (can be harvested earlier as green onions)
- Season for sowing seeds: Early spring or late summer for fall harvest.
Peas
Peas are cool-season crops that can tolerate light shade.
- Light: 4-6 hours of daily sunlight
- Water: Keep soil consistently moist, especially during flowering and pod development.
- Varieties to grow: Sugar Snap, Oregon Sugar Pod, Green Arrow
- Days to Maturity: 55-70 days
- Season for sowing seeds: Early spring is for a cool-season crop, and late summer is for fall harvest.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are a cool-season vegetable that can grow in partial shade.
- Light: 4-6 hours of daily sunlight
- Water: Consistent moisture is crucial for proper development.
- Varieties to grow: Long Island Improved, Churchill, Jade Cross
- Days to Maturity: 90-100 days
- Season for sowing seeds: Indoors in early spring for transplanting or late summer for fall harvest.
Parsley
Parsley is a biennial herb, a perfect candidate for shady corners of the garden.
- Light: Parsley thrives in partial to full shade, needing only 3-6 hours of dappled sunlight per day.
- Water: Keep soil evenly moist, but ensure good drainage to prevent root rot.
- Varieties to grow: Flat-leaf or curly parsley (English parsley)
- Days to Maturity: 70-90 days for a full harvest of leaves
- Season for sowing seeds: Early spring for a summer crop or late summer for an overwintering harvest
Endive
Like other leafy greens, endive is a bitter green that appreciates some relief from direct sun.
- Light: Partial shade with 4-6 hours of sun is ideal
- Water: Consistent moisture is key for crisp, tender leaves
- Varieties to grow: Green curled endive
- Days to Maturity: 85-100 days
- Season for sowing seeds: Early spring or late summer for a fall crop
Turnips
Both the roots and greens of turnips perform well in partial shade gardens.
- Light: 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day
- Water: Keep soil evenly moist, especially when developing roots
- Varieties to grow: Purple Top White Globe, Hakurei, Seven Top (greens)
- Days to Maturity: 50-60 days for roots, 40 days for greens
- Season for sowing seeds: Early spring or late summer
Keep in mind that while these vegetables can tolerate shade, they still need some sunlight to thrive. It’s essential to provide them with at least 4-6 hours of sunlight per day for optimal growth. Additionally, soil quality, moisture levels, and other environmental factors will also play a role in their success.
Tips for Success: Starting Seed at the Right Place and the Right Time
As with many things in life, being in the right place at the right time is key to success. When starting a vegetable garden, it is the same.
Some seedlings are best suited for direct sowing because they do not transplant well due to their sensitive root systems or other factors. In contrast, other seeds are required to start indoors and adapt seedlings to the environment slowly, hardening the seedlings to outdoor conditions.
Here are a few examples of vegetables that are best suited for direct sowing because transplanting may seriously damage their roots.
- Root Vegetables: Root vegetables like carrots, radishes, and beets develop long taproots that can be easily damaged during the transplanting process. When these vegetables are directly sown into the garden bed, they can establish their root systems without disturbance, resulting in healthier plants and better harvests.
- Peas: Peas have delicate root systems that do not handle transplanting well. They also have sensitive tendrils that they use to climb, which can be disrupted during transplanting. Directly sowing pea seeds into the garden soil allows them to establish their root systems and climb supports without interference.
- Lettuce and Leafy Greens: While lettuce, spinach, kale, and other leafy greens can technically be transplanted, they often do best when directly sown into the garden bed. Transplanting these seedlings can disturb their delicate roots and increase the risk of bolting (premature flowering) or other stress-related issues.
- Arugula: Arugula is another leafy green that prefers to be directly sown into the garden bed. It has a quick growth cycle, and transplanting can disrupt its development, leading to reduced yields or quality.
- Annual Herbs: Some herbs, such as dill, cilantro, and direct-sown basil, prefer to be directly sown into the garden bed. These herbs have delicate root systems and can experience transplant shock if moved from containers to the garden soil.
Keep in mind that if you plan to purchase seedlings of these veggies instead of growing them from seeds, have extra care when transplanting them to the garden, as damaging their roots will reduce the abundance of the harvest.
In general, plants with delicate root systems or those that establish quickly and easily from seed are best suited for direct sowing. However, it’s essential to consider the specific requirements of each plant and the conditions of your garden when deciding whether to start seeds indoors or directly sow into the garden bed.
The Right Place to Start Shade-Tolerant Vegetable Seeds: Indoors vs. Direct Sow
Starting certain vegetables indoors can give them a head start and ensure they are ready to transplant into the garden when the conditions are favorable. Here’s a breakdown of which shade-tolerant veggies you should start indoors and which ones you can directly sow into the garden.
Shade-Tolerant Vegetables to Start Indoors
Here’s the list of the shade-tolerant veggies you should start indoors.
- Broccoli: Start indoors in early spring for transplanting after the last frost date.
- Cauliflower: Like broccoli, start indoors in early spring for later transplanting.
- Cabbage: Begin indoors in early spring for transplanting when the seedlings are robust.
- Brussels Sprouts: These can also benefit from an early start indoors for transplanting.
- Green Onions: While they can be directly sown, starting them indoors can allow for better control and earlier harvests.
- Peas: Peas can be started indoors in cooler climates for an early harvest, although they can also be directly sown.
Learn about How to Start Seeds Indoors.
Shade-Tolerant Vegetables to Directly Sow
Here’s the list of shade-tolerant vegetables that you can directly sow into the garden.
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Kale
- Arugula
- Swiss Chard
- Collard Greens
- Beets
- Radishes
- Carrots
These vegetables generally have seeds that germinate well directly in the garden soil, and they don’t require as much time indoors before transplanting. They also tend to grow quickly, so there’s less of an advantage to starting them indoors.
Remember to check your local frost dates and plant hardiness zone to determine the best timing for starting seeds indoors and transplanting seedlings outdoors. Additionally, always follow the specific instructions on seed packets for optimal growing conditions for each vegetable.
The Right Time to Start Shade-Tolerant Vegetable Seeds per Hardiness Zone
First of all, before sowing or planting, confirm your USDA hardiness zone, as recently changed in 2023.
Here’s a table summarizing when to start the seeds of each vegetable for different USDA hardiness zones, whether to start them indoors or directly sow and their approximate days to maturity:
Chart: When to Start the Seeds of Each Vegetable per Growing Zones (3-9)
Vegetable | USDA Hardiness Zone | Best Practice for Starting Seeds | Start Seeds (Indoors) | Start Seeds (Direct Sow) | Days to Maturity |
Lettuce | Zones 3-9 | Direct Sow | – | April-May | 45-60 days |
Spinach | Zones 3-9 | Direct Sow | – | April-May | 40-50 days |
Kale | Zones 3-9 | Direct Sow | – | April-May | 55-75 days |
Arugula | Zones 3-9 | Direct Sow | – | April-May | 21-40 days |
Swiss Chard | Zones 3-9 | Direct Sow | – | April-May | 50-60 days |
Collard Greens | Zones 3-9 | Direct Sow | – | April-May | 55-85 days |
Beets | Zones 3-9 | Direct Sow | – | April-May | 50-70 days |
Radishes | Zones 3-9 | Direct Sow | – | April-May | 20-30 days |
Cauliflower | Zones 3-9 | Indoors | March-April | May-June | 50-85 days |
Broccoli | Zones 3-9 | Indoors | March-April | May-June | 60-90 days |
Cabbage | Zones 3-9 | Indoors | March-April | May-June | 50-100 days |
Carrots | Zones 3-9 | Direct Sow | – | April-July | 50-80 days |
Green Onions | Zones 3-9 | Direct Sow | – | April-July | 60-90 days |
Peas | Zones 3-9 | Direct Sow | – | April-May, August-Sept | 55-70 days |
Brussels Sprouts | Zones 3-9 | Indoors | March-April | May-June | 90-100 days |
Parsley | Zones 3-9 | Direct Sow | – | April-May | 70-90 days |
Endive | Zones 3-9 | Direct Sow | – | April-May, August-Sept | 85-100 days |
Turnips | Zones 3-9 | Direct Sow | – | April-May, August-Sept | 50-60 days (roots), 40 days (greens) |
While the table initially focused on USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9, which cover a wide range of climates across the United States, many of these vegetables can still be grown outside of these zones with some adjustments.
Growing Tips for Zones 1-2 and 10-11
Here’s how these vegetables can be grown in zones outside of 3-9:
Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Arugula, Swiss Chard, Collard Greens, Beets, Radishes, Carrots, Green Onions, Peas: These vegetables can generally be grown in a variety of climates, including zones beyond 3-9. However, the timing of planting may vary. For colder zones (1-2), planting can typically begin later in the spring, while for warmer zones (10-11), planting can start earlier in the fall or winter.
Cauliflower, Broccoli, Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts: These vegetables prefer cooler temperatures and can be challenging to grow in very hot climates (zones 10-11) unless you have a cooler microclimate or can provide shade during the hottest parts of the day. In colder climates (zones 1-2), they can be grown in the spring or fall but may require additional plant protection from frost.
In general, when growing vegetables outside of zones 3-9, it’s essential to consider the specific climate conditions of your area and make adjustments accordingly. This may involve experimenting with different planting times, providing shade or protection from extreme temperatures, and selecting varieties that are better suited to your local climate. Additionally, utilizing techniques such as mulching and drip irrigation can help regulate soil temperature and moisture levels, ensuring optimal growing conditions for your vegetables.
Final Thoughts
As you embark on the journey of shade gardening, remember that patience and attention to the unique needs of each crop will be rewarded with a bountiful harvest.
As you cultivate your shade vegetable garden, consider documenting your journey by keeping a gardening diary to record successes, challenges, and lessons learned for future growing seasons.
With the right knowledge and care, even the shadiest corners of your yard can become a productive and enjoyable space for cultivating nature’s bounty. So, gather your shade-loving seeds, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to experience the joy and satisfaction of a thriving shade vegetable garden right in your own backyard.
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