Benefits of Shade

• In some cases, shade can provide protection for vegetables during the hottest part of the day, preventing them from getting overheated by the sun or drying out in severely hot weather.
  
  For cold-weather crops and leafy vegetables, shade can also help extend the growing season by providing cooler growing conditions that help prevent vegetables such as lettuce from bolting or going to seed.
  
  

Misconceptions

• Unlike other plants, no vegetables prefer shade to sunlight. All vegetable plants need some sunlight to grow efficiently, and nearly all of them will thrive in full sunlight rather than shade.
  
  However, some varieties of vegetables tolerate shade better than others. If part of your garden is partially shaded by a tree, a house, or even other, taller vegetables, take these preferences into consideration while planting.
  
  

Plants that Like Shade

• Lettuce, cabbage, spinach, other greens and parsley are particularly tolerant of shade, as are broccoli and cabbage, because they are cool-weather crops. Root vegetables such as radishes, beets, turnips, onions and potatoes are also more willing to grow in the shade. Be sure, though, that these vegetables are getting some sun each day or they won't be able to grow at all.
  
  Keep in mind, too, that if your vegetables are planted near a tree or another large plant that is causing shade, they may be competing for soil nutrients and might need extra fertilizer to encourage growth.
  
  

Plants that Hate Shade

• Plants that produce fruit need plenty of sunlight, usually six hours a day or more, and therefore won't do well in shady conditions. These vegetables include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and squash.
  
  

Considerations

• If you live in a particularly hot area, shade can be used to your advantage, even for sun-loving plants. Keep heat-sensitive vegetables in containers and move them out of the sun into the shade during the hottest part of the day to prevent them from being overheated.
  
  If your yard is particularly shady, consider using container gardening to take advantage of what sunny areas you do have. Move vegetables around the garden as the sunlight moves, allowing the vegetables to get as much sun as possible during the day.