What vegetables grow well in limited sunlight?

12 years ago

We liven on a 1.25 acre, heavily wooded lot with 2 clearings that get limited sun. But if we move from one spot in the clearing to another spot just 10 feet away, the amount of sunlight in the new spot drops about 1.5 -2 hours per day. So we cannot just grow in any spot in the clearing.

The area where I grew my large Dahlias and large Zinnias is the sunniest spot, in that it gets about 6-8 hours of sun in high June,depending upon which area within that spot we planted. The dahlia at the top of the rows gets 7.5 - 8 hours in June, and the Dahlia at the bottom of the rows just 9 feet away gets 6 hours. But as the months go by, and we get into sept and October(prime Dahlia blooming months), the amount of daily sun is down to like 2-4 hours per day, or less!

But the area where we grow vegetables gets only about 4-5.5 hours per day, depending upon whether its at the front or rear of the garden area. But later in the year, as the sun drops further down in the sky, the amount of daily sun also drops, to the point where in late September, there is only 2.5-3 hours of sun in the vegetable garden area.

So, we've tried tomatoes 2 years in a row, and many grow tall and stringy, with low production. We've tried watermelons 2 years in a row, but the melons never grow larger than 3-4 lbs. or so....

But, we tried cukes this year in the front of the garden, and allowed them to grow across the ground. Otherwise if we trellised them they would've shaded everything else. So they grew their vines towards the back of the garden, where there is even less sun, but the cukes were very productive nonetheless.

We grew 3 bell peppers, 2 Poblano/Anchos, and 1 Tam Jalapeno, and they grew pretty well too, with lots of peppers, even though 2 of them were in the shadiest locations.

So, finally I'll get to the question after droning on and on.....

Are there any other vegetable that do well and produce well in limited sun like what I described?

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Comments (8)

pnbrown
12 years ago
I guess it has to depend on what is meant by 'do well' and 'produce well'. Going by my definition the answer to the question is no. Food crops are very strongly adapted to full sun, and as a general statement few if any are tolerant to less than 6 hours. So, yes, plants will produce something even on much less than full sun but nothing close to full potential and generally the plant will easily fall to insect pressure and other problems.
glib
12 years ago
Vegetables whose leaves and stalks you eat are best for those locations. Top performers, in descending order of sunlight needs:

- small leaf brassica: arugula, mizuna, red mustard
- large leaf brassica: lacinato, collard, kale
- cardoon and celery (I have tried only the deep green, semi-wild variety)
- carrots, radicchio, turnip, parsley and lettuce
- chard, parsnip, chioggia beets

Plants that tolerate some shade include rutabaga, onions and cabbage (reduced yields are always implied). Beets, garlic and potatoes do not tolerate much shade. For summer vegetables, those that do best in partial shade are zucchini and beans. Peppers and cukes are in fact more shade tolerant than their relatives. Tomatoes, watermelons, eggplants and melons are absolute no-no in shade. I am unsure about sweet potatoes and okra.
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Other posts seem to recommend leafy vegetables for this type of sun pattern. I realize these are generally spring/fall vegetables, but are they spring/fall vegetables only in a garden with direct sun during those seasons? They are basically vegetables that will tolerate 'shade', defined as less than 6-8 hours of direct sun, and still do well. This, as opposed to the vegetables that require 6-8 hours of direct sun to prosper. Your sun exposure pattern as you describe it would fall into the "shade gardening" category - lots of internet info available on it - since it would only have 6 hours of direct sun and then only for a limited time. There are some ways to get around the problems of shade gardening explained in some of the articles linked below - using containers that can be moved as needed is one of the most common. Hope this helps. Dave Here is a link that might be useful: Shade Gardening
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From my experience you can grow any variety of tomatoe with the amount of sun you have. I grow the big heirloom tomatoes. Tomatoes like Dester, which I think has the best taste, and Pink Brandywine which has a distinctive sweet taste, I enjoy. Pink Brandywine isn't a big producer for me though. I also grow Belgium Giant, which live up to their name, and Mortgage Lifter, usually my first tomato. Also Marianna's Peace. The closest I get to growing a cherry tomato is Yellow Pear. I would never argue that full sun won't grow a better crop, but you'll be thrilled with what you grow and your crops will certainly be better that what you'd grow if you gave up your dream.
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orgogal
12 years ago
I had an excellent crop of potatoes that grew in partial shade. It was a cool summer, though, so they weren't trying to grow fast with no sunlight. I think the coolness of the summer allowed them to do better with less sun - as they weren't so greatly challenged. (this is anecdotal - totally)
pnbrown
12 years ago
Glib, my chard ended up shaded by corn this year and it suffered terribly.
shebear
12 years ago
I have to agree with pnbrown. It's amazing what is considered "doing well".
christie_sw_mo
12 years ago
If you don't have enough sun for full size tomatoes, you could try cherry tomatoes. I don't have much experience with different named varieties but I do get volunteer cherry tomatoes in spots with very little sun sometimes and still get plenty for salads which is what I like tomatoes best for anyway. They've come up where they get mostly shade from shrubs and they also seem to do pretty well where they have popped up along the east foundation of our house in morning sun. Just something to try.

Here is a link that might be useful: Do Cherry Tomatoes Require the Same Amount of Sun As Full Size
digdirt2
12 years ago
What you are talking about is usually referred to as "shade gardening", a misnomer I know as you do have some sun, but you'll find many discussions and tips on how to do it via a Google search. Lists of best varieties too. But with vegetables your options will be limited - even for minimal production.

But as the others have pointed out, you have to define your expectations first to know what will work and what won't.

Dave
glib
12 years ago
I actually prefer chard grown in some shade, it tastes better. It will never make 2 ft leaves, but it is so productive even 1ft leaves are fine.

What vegetables grow well in limited sunlight?

Comments (8)

pnbrown

glib

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