Vegetables that grow in shade are predominately leafy vegetables and root crops, so they make the best choices. Vegetables that produce fruits, like tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplant, need all the sun they can get. If you are going to try growing vegetables in shade, remember that they still need plenty of water––and water and shade are perfect conditions for snails and slugs. You’ll need to be especially diligent in scouting for these slimy creatures or they will wipe out your harvest. Good choices include arugula, lettuce, sorrel, and spinach, which need three to four hours of sun per day. Try Asian greens (pak choi or mizuna), chard, kale, and mustard greens, all of which need three to four hours of sun each day. Even cabbage and broccoli will grow in a half-day of sun. They prefer cooler weather but will take a little longer to head. Root vegetables for partial shade include beets, carrots, potatoes, radishes, wasabi, and turnips. These herbs will do fine with only about three hours of sun per day: chives, cilantro, mint, oregano, and parsley. Bush beans are a better choice for shade than pole beans. Pole varieties start producing beans later in the season and they need sunshine to grow the vines that will eventually hold the beans. Bush beans are quick growers and, like peas, appreciate a little cooling off in the afternoon.
