15 Shade-Tolerant Vegetables You Can Grow in Even the Most Low-Light Conditions

While some plants can grow in full shade, veggies don’t fit into that category. Many need exposure to at least six to ten hours of sun to produce a healthy harvest—think fruiting vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash, etc. 

If you’re looking for shade-tolerant vegetable options for a yard that only receives 3 to 6 hours of sun, consider these 15 species—just be aware they might be slower to grow and not always the best-in-class crop.

Broccoli

Start these cool-season crops in early- to mid-spring for a summer harvest and mid- to late summer for a fall vegetable harvest. Sow seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep and thin seedlings so they are 12 to 18 inches apart in rows that are 2 to 3 feet apart.

• Zones: 2 to 11 (USDA) 
• Size: 18–30 in. tall x 12–24 in. wide 
• Sun: Full, partial
• Soil: Loamy, well-drained
• Water: Evenly moist

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Beets

Beets are typically ready to harvest 6 to 8 weeks after planting, and they grow best in cool spring and fall temperatures. Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep and one inch apart, thinning seedlings to 2 to 3 inches apart.

• Zones: 2 to 11 (USDA) 
• Size: 1 to 2 ft. tall x 4 x 6 in. wide
• Sun: Full, partial
• Soil: Loamy, sandy, well-drained
• Water: Evenly moist

Arugula

Arugula germinates best in temperatures between 40°F and 55°F, and you can plant every two to three weeks for a continuous harvest until fall frosts. Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep and in rows 1 inch apart before thinning seedlings to 6 inches apart.

• Zones: 2 to 11 (USDA)
• Size: 2 to 3 ft. tall x 1 to 1.5 ft. wide
• Sun: Full, partial
• Soil: Loamy, well-drained
• Water: Evenly moist

Asparagus

It’s best to plant perennial vegetable asparagus in the spring once the soil reaches 50°F, and be patient—it takes three years for these veggies to become harvest mature. Grow in trenches 8 inches deep and space the crowns 12 inches apart in rows that are 4 to 5 feet apart.

• Zones: 3 to 10 (USDA)
• Size: 4 ft. tall x 2 ft. wide
• Sun: Full, Partial
• Soil: Loamy, sandy
• Water: Evenly moist

Cauliflower

Sow cauliflower seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, then thin seedlings so they are 18 inches apart. For a fall harvest, sow seeds in July. 

• Zones: 2 to 11 (USDA)
• Size: 12 to 30 in. tall x 12 to 24 in. wide
• Sun: Full, partial
• Soil: Well-draining
• Water: Evenly moist
  

Carrots

Sow carrot seeds in the spring after soil temperatures reach 40°F and right through to mid-summer. Sow them 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, then thin seedlings to 3 inches apart in rows that are 12 to 18 inches apart. 

• Zones: 3 to 10 (USDA)
• Size: 1 ft. tall x 9 in. wide
• Sun: Full, partial
• Soil: Loose, well-draining
• Water: Evenly moist

Lettuce

It’s best to sow head lettuce seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep two to three weeks before the last frost. Space seedlings 8 to 12 inches apart in rows that are 12 to 18 inches apart.

• Zones: 2 to 11 (USDA)
• Size: 6 to 12 in. tall and wide
• Sun: Full, partial
• Soil: Loamy, well-drained
• Water: Evenly moist

Spinach

Leafy spinach does best if you start sowing two to three weeks before the last spring frosts, and it will be ready to harvest 6 to 10 weeks later. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and then thin to 3 inches apart in rows that are 12 inches apart.

• Zones: 2 to 11 (USDA)
• Size: 6 to 12 in. tall and wide
• Sun: Full, partial
• Soil: Loamy, well-drained
• Water: Evenly moist

Kale

Sow kale seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep and thin seedlings 12 to 18 inches apart in rows that are 2 feet apart. Plant this cole crop around 4 to 5 weeks before the last spring frost, and you can harvest after around 60 days.

• Zones: 7 to 9 (USDA)
• Size: 1 to 2 ft. tall and wide
• Sun: Full, partial
• Soil: Loamy, well-drained
• Water: Evenly moist

Collard Greens

Sow seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep and thin seedlings to around 12 inches apart in rows that are 2.5 feet apart. Plant them for a spring or fall harvest that takes 60 to 80 days to mature.

• Zones: 2 to 11 (USDA)
• Size: 8 to 14 in. tall x 12 to 18 in. wide
• Sun: Full, partial
• Soil: Well-drained
• Water: Evenly moist

Cabbage

Sow cabbage seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, thinning them out to allow 2 feet between plants. These veggies are ready to harvest in 60 to 100 days, so sow in July for a fall crop.

• Zones: 2 to 11 (USDA)
• Size: 1 to 2 ft. tall and wide
• Sun: Full, partial
• Soil: Loamy, well-drained
• Water: Evenly moist

Radishes

Sow fast-growing radish seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep and thin seedlings to 1 to 3 inches apart in rows that are 12 inches apart. Expect a fall harvest three to five weeks after planting in early September. 

• Zones: 2 to 11 (USDA)
• Size: 12 in. tall x 3 in. wide
• Sun: Full, partial
• Soil: Loamy, well-drained
• Water: Evenly moist

Turnips

Plant seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, thinning to 3 to 6 inches apart in rows that are 18 to 30 inches apart. The roots take 40 to 60 days to mature, and you can plant them two to three weeks before the last frost.

• Zones: 2 to 11 (USDA)
• Size: 1 ft. tall x 1 ft. wide
• Sun: Full, partial
• Soil: Loamy, well-drained
• Water: Evenly moist

Jerusalem Artichokes

Sow these perennial plant seeds in the spring in soil 2 to 4 inches deep. Thin to allow 15 to 24 inches between seedlings in rows that are 30 to 42 inches wide. Expect to harvest Jerusalem artichokes around 130 days after planting. 

• Zones: 3 to 9 (USDA)
• Size: 6 to 10 ft. tall x 3 to 5 ft. wide
• Sun: Full, partial
• Soil: Well-drained
• Water: Evenly moist

Brussel Sprouts

It's best to plant brussel sprout seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, thinning the seedlings to 12 to 18 inches apart in rows that are 2 to 3 feet apart. You can plant for a fall harvest in early summer, as these veggies take between 90 and 180 days to mature. 

• Zones: 2 to 10 (USDA)
• Size: 2 to 3 ft. tall x 1 ft. wide
• Sun: Full sun, partial shade
• Soil: Loamy, well-drained
• Water: Evenly moist