Shade can provide ideal growing conditions

by Stephanie Brash

Do you have a part shade yard, and really want a vegetable garden? All is not lost, there are plenty of options for you.

There are actually many vegetables that can grow and thrive without significant direct sunlight. This could mean around four hours of sunlight or constant dappled sunlight throughout the entire day.

A general rule of thumb is that any vegetable that is grown for its leaves or roots can handle partial shade, and any vegetable grown for its fruit (tomatoes, cucumber, squash, melon, etc.) needs full sun for the fruit to reach full maturity.

“Leafy” vegetables for partial shade – Arugula, spinach, endive and mesclun mix are fast-growing leafy greens that can be sown directly into the garden in mid-spring, at two-week intervals for constant harvest.

• Bok choy prefers partial shade (particularly in the heat of summer), both its smooth leaves and crisp stalks can be eaten.
• Celery is easy to grow as long as it has nutrient-rich soil. Though it takes a long time to mature, it needs consistently moist soil, which helps with a few hours of shade.
• Collard greens, a relative of cabbage, can be grown as salad greens or sautéed.
• Kale and Swiss chard prefer cool soil temperatures, including light frosts, making it a good choice for shadier locations.
• Lettuce is another cool season veg that dislikes too much direct sun, and can be planted in succession, or pick individual leaves as needed.
• Peas do fine in a partially shaded spot, also preferring cool weather, and must be harvested before it gets too hot.

Root vegetables for partial shade – Beets and radishes can be grown for both their roots and their greens – their size will be slightly smaller than if they were grown in full sun, but no less delicious.

• Carrots and parsnips are easy root vegetables to grow, and prefer loose soil so their roots are not compacted.
• Brussel sprouts take a long time to mature but do well in the cooler shoulder seasons, their flavour actually improving after a light frost. Partial shade is preferred, particularly during the hot summer months.
• Garlic, planted in the fall, is harvested the following growing season for both its scapes and then its bulbs.
• Potatoes, though tolerant of partial shade, do benefit from a few hours of direct sunlight to keep the top of the plant feeding the tubers beneath.