Vegetables for the shade: Our top 10 overview

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Not a sun garden, but a shady spot? No problem - these ten vegetables also grow in the shade Marvelous.

Swiss chard in the flower bed
Plants like Swiss chard still grow well in the shade of trees and buildings [Photo: TangledNonsensePhoto / Shutterstock.com]

Above all, plants need one thing: light! Tomato, cucumber or zucchini - this popular garden plant just can't get enough light. But what if your own garden is not kissed by the sun? Don't worry, you don't have to do without gardening: with the right choice of plants, even shady gardens can become a true plant paradise. We'll show you ten types of vegetables that also thrive in the shade.

"Contents"

  • 10. spinach
  • 9. Kohlrabi
  • 8. radish
  • 7. Swiss chard
  • 6. peas
  • 5. Beetroot
  • 4. cauliflower
  • 3. broccoli
  • 2. salad
  • 1. Brussels sprouts

You can find more detailed information on the preferences of the following vegetables in the respective specialist articles, which we have already linked for you.

10. spinach

spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is not only delicious, but also very robust: Cold and shade are no problem at all for Popeye's favorite plant. In fact, the opposite is actually the case: when there is too much sun and heat, spinach shoots quickly, bears flowers and begins to taste tart. Therefore, a spot in the shade for the green vegetables is definitely a good choice. With a little care and regular watering, the spinach thrives here without any problems. However, it grows a little slower in the shade than in the sun, which in no way affects its good taste.

Spinach in the garden
Cold and shade are no problem for the spinach [Photo: Milosz_G / Shutterstock.com]

9. Kohlrabi

Whether as raw food, cooked or fried - Kohlrabi is and remains simply delicious. And the cabbage vegetables are also easy to grow: fast-growing and robust, they have won the hearts of many a gardener. If the plant has enough nutrients and water, it will grow perfectly even in the shade. Kohlrabi is also very healthy: with lots of protein, vitamins and minerals, they are an ideal source of nutrients.

Kohlrabi in the garden
The kohlrabi grows perfectly even with little sun [Photo: giedre vaitekune / Shutterstock.com]

8. radish

Anyone looking for the perfect vegetable for gardeners will come to radish (Raphanus savitus var. savitus) not over: The little pink tuber is not only easy to grow, but also very robust and also grows quickly. A partially shaded spot is ideal for the radish, but it also thrives in the shade without any problems. In other respects, too, the tuber is one of the undemanding vegetables. However, one should note that radishes from the shade are a bit hotter and more aromatic than their conspecifics in partially shaded locations. The reason for this are mustard oils, which tend to accumulate in the tuber as they grow more slowly. So if you like a more intense taste, you should sow your radishes in the shade next time.

Radishes on earth in the garden
Radishes from the shade have a more intense taste [Photo: Nils Z / Shutterstock.com]

7. Swiss chard

Healthy, tasty and also decorative - Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) is a real all-rounder in the bed with its colorful stems. And his demands on the location are just as varied as he is. In fact, Swiss chard grows best in a sunny spot - but that doesn't mean it dies in the shade. Mangold tolerates a shady location surprisingly well. He just needs a little more time than his colleagues in the sun to be ready for harvest.

Chard cultivation
The Swiss chard is a real all-rounder in the bed

6. peas

Small, green and round - peas (Pisum sativum) are not only popular vegetables with children. The pea is also popular with gardeners, after all, the plants are relatively easy to care for and even improve the soil, as they ensure a higher nitrogen content. Peas are also relatively robust: They grow just as well in the sun as they do in (semi) shade. However, if you are growing in the shade, you should be careful not to water it too often. After all, not so much water evaporates in the shade and excessive watering can quickly lead to waterlogging, which the pea cannot tolerate.

Peas in the garden
Peas can be grown in the sun and in (semi) shade [Photo: Zakhar Mar / Shutterstock.com]

5. Beetroot

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) should not be missing in any garden, after all, it is one of the healthiest vegetables of all. Also the Cultivation of beetroot is anything but heavy: Robust and easy to care for, beetroot is also suitable for beginners. So it does not have high demands on its soil or location - it grows both in full sun and in the shade. Planted in spring, the beetroot can be harvested just before the first frost and usually stored over the winter without any problems.

Beetroot in the garden
The beetroot does not have high demands on its location [Photo: CLICKMANI / Shutterstock.com]

4. cauliflower

Of the cauliflower (Brassica oleracera var. botrytis) is probably one of the most popular types of cabbage, which it owes primarily to its good taste, but also to its diversity in preparation. This also works in the garden Cauliflower cultivation. The seedlings can be planted in the bed from April to the end of June and are ready for the pot eight to twelve weeks later. Although cauliflower thrives best with lots of light, it also grows easily in the shade (albeit a little slower). In addition, a place in the shade protects the sensitive white heads of the cauliflower from unsightly sunburn, which can quickly form in strong sunlight.

Cauliflower in the garden
A shady spot can protect the cauliflower from unsightly sunburn [Photo: GOLFX / Shutterstock.com]

3. broccoli

Nobody else is so closely related to cauliflower - so it's no wonder that too broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italic) grows excellently in the shade. Easy to care for and robust, the vegetables can be grown in almost any garden. It just needs some fertilizer and water regularly to grow properly. After seven weeks, the broccoli is ripe for harvest and not only delights our palate, but is also very healthy. More about Harvesting broccoli learn from this article.

Young broccoli
Broccoli can be grown in almost any garden [Photo: Denis Pogostin / Shutterstock.com]

2. salad

It is the beginner vegetable par excellence: lettuce is robust, grows quickly and does not need a lot of care. At the same time, nowhere else do you get the green leaves as fresh and crisp as from your own cultivation. Especially Asia and Lamb's lettuce, but also arugula and lettuce can easily be grown in the shade. Especially in summer, a shady spot is recommended for the delicious leafy vegetables: otherwise there is a risk that the salad will start to shoot in the hot midday heat.

Lettuce in the garden
A shady spot is recommended for the salad, especially in summer [Photo: asharkyu / Shutterstock.com]

1. Brussels sprouts

What takes a long time is finally good - the cultivation of Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera) is not for the impatient. The seedlings are usually planted in April, but they cannot be harvested until autumn or even winter. But if you can be patient, you will be rewarded with delicious florets in the end. In fact, Brussels sprouts can be safely planted in the shade. A place in the shade even has advantages when growing Brussels sprouts: The vegetables do not tolerate heat particularly well and are therefore particularly happy about the coolness of a shadow place in summer.

Brussels sprouts in the garden
The Brussels sprouts do not tolerate heat very well [Photo: Dagmar Breu / Shutterstock.com]

Tip: the Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil provides your vegetable plants with optimal nutrients even in the shade. In addition, it is completely peat-free and sustainably produced.

Do you want something unusual in your garden? How about one of these curious vegetables?

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