Vegetables That Only Need Partial Shade

If you want to grow more food at home, but you don’t have the option for a full vegetable 
garden in your backyard, the lack of sun is often the biggest issue. While many 
vegetables do need as much sunlight as possible, others do okay with just partial sun 
and partial shade. This is often when you grow them on your patio or balcony, in your 
sunroom, or even right in your kitchen. Here are some of the best vegetables that can 
grow with only partial shade.

Beans

The first vegetable you can grow on your patio or in your backyard with just partial sun 
and partial shade is beans. However, you need to consider what types of beans you 
have. The beans that are on a vine are fine with just partial sun, where they are shaded 
for part of the day. These would be the ones on a trellis. With the beans that are in 
bushes, try to give them at least 6 hours of sun per day.

Broccoli and Cauliflower

Both broccoli and cauliflower can survive with partial shade during the day. Broccoli 
actually shouldn’t have full sun all day because it can ruin the flavor. What happens is 
that it leads to a high amount of flowering, which can decrease the taste of the 
vegetable. This does better with partial shade during the day, slowing the flowering 
process. Cauliflower is similar to broccoli, where you want it to flower a little slower. 
Keep the sun exposure to no more than 6 hours a day.

Cabbage

If you want to grow greens on your patio or in the backyard in a shaded area, cabbage 
is your best bet. Cabbage doesn’t want a lot of sun, as it can dry out the vegetable. This 
occurs when it has bigger leaves and smaller heads of cabbage, overwhelming the 
vegetable itself. It is ideal for a partial sun and partial shade area.

Beets

Are beets a family favorite? If so, you will be happy to know you can grow them in 
partial shade. Beets are actually beginner-friendly as well, so if you’re trying to grow 
vegetables on a patio or in a sunroom where it only gets partial sun, these are good to 
start with. They should preferably be partially shaded, even when you are growing them 
in drier conditions.

Radishes, turnips, coriander, carrots, onions, and peas can also survive with partial 
shade.
