Foods To Grow In Partial Shaded Areas

Plants grown for their edible leaves or roots are some of our best options for food grown in more shaded or filtered light areas. Partial shade areas offers a mirco-climate that behaves differently than full sun conditions. Watering for instance will be different for partial shaded areas as there is less evaporation from sun and heat and therefor soil in these areas often holds water for longer periods of time. There maybe also less air flow if under a canopy and there are changes in temperature. These are ALL great insights for us to keep observing & documenting when growing in different micro-climates like partial shade.

Here is a start of some of the best foods to grow in partial shaded areas: (any area under 6 hours of sun a day would be considered partial or shaded area)

Vegetables Aprox 6+ hours of sun per day

Asparagus (likes sun but will grow in partial)

Broccoli

Brussel sprouts

Cabbages

Cauliflower

Chives (likes sun but will grow in partial, slower)

Collard Greens

Garlic (likes sun but will grow in partial)

Leaks

Potatoes (will yield smaller tubers but worth it )

Rhubarb

Watercress (likes sun but will grow in partial)

Vegetables Aprox 5- 6 hours sun per day

Beans

Beets

Bok Choy

Chard

Carrots

Celery

Horseradish

Kohlrabi

Mizuna

Onions

Peas

Parsnip

Rutabagas

Turnips

Pok Choy

Vegetables Aprox 4 Hours

Arugulas

Kale

Lettuces

Mustard Greens

Radishes

Spinach

Fruits For Partial Shade

Currants

Elderberries

Gooseberries

Hardy Kiwi (Vining plant, very hardy, edible fruit)

Lingonberry (Understory bush)

Mulberries

Muscadines (berry variety)

Pears

Pawpaw (Understory fruit tree that’s native to North America.)

Raspberries

Herbals For Partial Shade

Chicory

Chives

Dandelion

Horsetails

Ginseng

Goldenseal

Mint

Oregano

Parsley

Rosemary

Sage

Thyme

Valerian

Others

Mushrooms (on mulch or logs)

*Note We don’t have to keep all of our shade-loving vegetables in their own areas, think about how you can interplant or build polycultures, sowing them under taller plants. For example, basil, chives, and radishes and lettuces can grow easily under tall tomato plants. This not only offers shade but shields some plants from some heat or offer plants soil benefits!

Questions To Contemplate: How can I maximize my growing spaces/areas by using partial shaded areas to interplant? What plants have I noticed struggling with too much sun exposure? Can I even improve soil health by added cover crops or other perennials in my partial shaded areas?