Conventional gardening wisdom often dictates that a productive garden requires full sun throughout the day. However, a thriving garden doesn't always need the recommended six to eight hours of direct sunlight.
If fences, trees, or your house cast a lot of shade, it is still possible to grow vegetables by focusing on plants grown for their leaves, stems, or roots. This approach means avoiding fruit varieties such as tomatoes, cucumbers, squash or peppers. It is important to clarify that 'sunlight hours' refers to the unobstructed time that the sun's rays reach the ground directly each day.
These plants can thrive or at least get by with less sun.
Most leafy greens are exceptionally shade tolerant and thrive with as little as three to four hours of sunlight. Arugula, bok choi, chard, collard greens, kale, loose leaf lettuces, mustard greens, chicory and spinach are shade garden heroes.
The tubers require a little more sun, but can be grown successfully in partial shade conditions. Full sun will produce larger yields, but if your garden bed receives only four to six hours of sunlight, you can grow potatoes, carrots, beets, parsnips, radishes, and turnips.
Leafy green herbs can also be grown in areas with less sun. In fact, protection from those scorching rays will prevent leaf scorch (browning or scorching) and leaf shedding (when a plant produces seeds prematurely and its leaves turn bitter). Basil, chervil, chives, cilantro, lemon balm, mint, and parsley are great choices for partial shade.
How to help your plants develop better in the shade
When grown in shady locations, it is best to sow seeds indoors or purchase starter plants at the nursery. Most seeds require sunlight to germinate, so their sprouting may be difficult outdoors or at least take longer.
Shady gardens can benefit from the addition of reflective surfaces. Paint the fence white or hang a strategically placed mirror. The sun's rays will bounce off it, providing the energy plants need to carry out photosynthesis.
If the sunniest spot in your garden is already planted with flowers and other ornamental plants, consider mixing in some edibles. Cherry tomatoes, chard, chives, sage and amaranth are beautiful plants that will fit in exceptionally well.
I'm growing garlic under my roses and no one has noticed. In fact, they make fantastic bedfellows, as garlic repels pests that would attack roses. Its antimicrobial properties also help prevent fungal diseases.
Although it can be difficult to grow some plants in the shade, there are advantages.
On the one hand, you will have to water less because soil moisture does not evaporate as quickly as in full sun.
And, slugs aside, most pests set their sights on sunny spots, so you'll also have fewer infestations to deal with.
