Kale appears in a partly shady foundation bed on Long Island, N.Y., on June 11, 2026. (Jessica Damiano via AP)

2026-07-07T13:31:02Z

Conventional wisdom says vegetable gardens need full sun, but a productive garden doesn’t always require the recommended six to eight hours of direct sunlight.

If fences, trees or your house cast shade on your soil, growing vegetables won’t be out of reach if you stick to plants that are grown for their leaves, stems or roots, rather than those grown for their fruit, like tomatoes, cucumbers, squash or peppers.

To be clear, by “hours of sunlight,” I’m referring to the length of time the sun reaches the soil each day as it moves across the sky, unobstructed by buildings and other structures that cast shadows.

These plants can thrive or at least get by with less sun

Most leafy greens are exceptionally shade-tolerant, thriving in as little as three to four hours of sunlight. Arugula, bok choi, chards, collard greens, kale, loose-leaf lettuces, mustard greens, radicchio and spinach are shade garden heroes.

Root vegetables require a little more sun but can be successfully grown in partially shady conditions. Full sun will produce larger harvests, but if your garden bed receives only four to six hours of sunlight, you can grow potatoes, carrots, beets, parsnips, radishes and turnips.

Leafy herbs, too, can be grown in lower-sun areas. In fact, protection from those blistering rays will prevent leaf scorch (browning or burning of leaves) and bolting (when a plant produces seeds prematurely and its leaves become bitter). Basil, chervil, chives, cilantro, lemon balm, mint and parsley are great choices for part shade.

How to help your plants do better in the shade

When growing crops in shady spots, it’s best to start seeds indoors or buy starter plants at the nursery. Most seeds require sunlight to germinate, so their sprouting may be hampered 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 photosynthesize.

If the sunniest spot in your landscape is already planted with flowers and other ornamentals, consider mixing in some edibles. Cherry tomatoes, rainbow chard, chives, sage and amaranth are beautiful plants that will fit in exceptionally well.

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I’m growing garlic under my roses, and no one has noticed. In fact, they make fantastic bedmates, as the garlic chases away pests that would attack the roses. Its antimicrobial properties also help thwart fungal diseases.

Although it can be challenging to grow some plants in the shade, there are upsides.

For one, you’ll have to water less because soil moisture doesn’t evaporate as quickly as it does in full sun.

And, aside from slugs, most pests set their sights on sunny spots, so you’ll also have fewer infestations to deal with.

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Jessica Damiano writes regular gardening columns for The Associated Press. She publishes the Weekly Dirt Newsletter. Sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice.

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For more AP gardening stories, go to https://apnews.com/hub/gardening.