Not every garden has the luxury of a lot of sunlight - and that's not a problem! Maybe you have a bed in the partial shade, your balcony is north or a large tree provides shade. Don't worry: Even with less sun you can achieve a good harvest! In this article you will learn which vegetables need little sun, which tips help and how you can make the best of your garden in the shade.
How much sun does vegetables really need?
Not every vegetable needs a lot of sunlight. But what exactly do terms such as partial shade or full shadow mean? Here is a simple explanation:
- Full sunmeans that the plants receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. This is ideal for most vegetables.
- Partial shadowmeans that the vegetables only get 3 to 5 hours of sun every day - often in the morning or in the evening. Many robust varieties are still growing well here.
- Lights shadowmeans that there is no direct sunlight, but still there is enough brightness - for example under light trees or on a light house wall. Some vegetables get along with it.
- Full shadowmeans that the plants get less than 2 hours of sun a day. The vegetable cultivation is difficult here, but some leafy vegetables can still thrive.
Plants that get little sun often grow slower. They form larger leaves to capture more light and develop deeper roots to better absorb nutrients.
Discover tooWhat types of vegetables thrive in full sun!
These vegetables also thrive with little sun
If your garden or balcony does not get much sunlight, these vegetables are your best friends:
1. Leaf vegetables - ideal for shady beds
Leaf vegetables are one of the most easy -care plants for shady locations. It hardly needs any direct sunlight and often grows even better in partial shade, as it tends less to form flower.
- Spinach - perfect for cool, shady places, grows quickly and tastes more delicate than in the blazing sun.
- Small lettuce & picking salad - both varieties get out with little sun as long as the floor remains moist.
- Swiss chard - only needs a few hours of sunshine a day and grows strongly in the shade.
- Rucola - develops a milder aroma in the shade than in the sun.
- Shadowy - an excellent choice for shady gardens, especially in autumn and winter.
- Asia salads (e.g. Mizuna, Pak Choi)-these varieties thrive particularly well in partially shaded areas.
Tipp:Ensure a humus -rich, loose earth - leafy vegetables love even moisture and benefits from layers of mulch.
2. Root vegetables - shadow is not a problem
Many types of root vegetables come with little sunlight, but require nutrient -rich, well -loosened soils.
- Radishes - Crunchy tubers develop with only 3–4 hours of sun every day.
- Redet - grows with little light, but slower and with smaller tubers.
- Pastinaks - particularly well suited for partially shaded beds because they stay in the ground for a long time.
- Carrots (conditioned) - you need a little more light, but also grow in partial shade when the floor is well prepared.
- Topinambur - this robust plant comes out with little sun and still forms numerous tubers.
- Salvation - this type of root vegetable is undemanding and grows in less sunny locations.
Tipp:Avoid fertilization -rich fertilization - this promotes leaf growth at the expense of tuber formation.
3. Cabbage family - robust classics for little sun
Many types of cabbage are extremely adaptable and grow well in partial shade.
- Kale - is even more aromatic due to cool temperatures.
- Brussels sprouts - develop well with little sun, but slower.
- Cauliflower & broccoli - half -shadow protects against sunburn on the cabbage heads.
- Wirsing & Weißkohl - these varieties get along well with 4–5 hours of sun.
- Chinese cabbage - it is best to grow in partial shade because it can flower too quickly if it is too hot.
Tipp:Cabbage plants benefit from a good crop rotation - do not put them in the same location every year.
4. Herbs - aromatic even in the shade
Some herbs thrive in the shade and still bring intense aroma.
- Petersley - grows particularly well in partial shade, as too much sun makes the leaves fades.
- Chives - need little sun, but grows slower.
- Mint - very robust, but prolifers strong - better grow in pots.
- Lemon balm - ideal for shady areas, grows strongly and smells wonderful.
- Chervil-a shadow-loving alternative to parsley, with a fine anise aroma.
- Tarragon - requires little light and develops well in shady corners.
Tipp:Herbs in the shade require less water because the evaporation is lower.
5. Beans & beans - robust shadow vegetables
- Peas - grow with little sun, but need a trellis to climb.
- Bush beans - tolerate partial shade and still produce a good harvest.
Tips for growing vegetables with little sun to grow optimally
If your garden is rather shady, you can improve the harvest with a few tricks:
- Use reflective light:A light wall or white stones help to distribute the light better.
- Use light mulch layer:Heller mulch reflects light and keeps the floor damp.
- Improve soil quality:Shady soils tend to compress - loosen regularly and enrich them with compost.
- Plants set poet:Since plants are often larger in the shade, they can be planted denser to optimally use the space.
- Have patience:Vegetables in the shade grow more slowly, so they do not harvest too early.
Even if your garden doesn't get the sun all day, there are numerous ways to successfully grow vegetables. With the right types of plants, a loose, nutrient -rich soil and a little patience, you can achieve an impressive harvest even in shady areas!
