Trying to grow a vegetable garden in a shady yard doesn't have to lead to frustration. You can grow a selection of vining vegetable crops in a lightly shaded areas by picking the right types and starting with good soil. In deep shade however, with less than two hours of sun per day, vining vegetable crops grow poorly and often fail to flower and fruit.
Pole bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris) tolerate shady growing conditions. These annuals have tender pods that can be eaten fresh or dried and shelled. Pole beans grow 5- to 8-feet tall with a vining growth habit. While they are more tolerant of low-light conditions than some other types of plants, the more sun you can give them the better. Plant pole beans where they will get at least four hours of sun per day.
You can grow peas (Pisum sativum) in a garden with four or five hours of sun per day. Peas, like sugar snap peas and garden peas, have a tender shell filled with plump peas. A vining pea plant will climb a trellis or other structure growing 1 to 8 feet tall. Peas are an annual that grow best during cool winters in mild Mediterranean climates.
In low-light growing conditions, summer squash (Cucurbita pepo) is a suitable option. Summer squash has a thin edible skin and includes the dark green zucchini types and yellow squash. It is a trailing vine that grows 2 to 4 feet wide and 1 to 3 feet tall. Grow summer squash during the warm spring and summer growing season. Summer squash can get by with two to six hours of sun per day.
A warm-season annual, tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) grow during late spring and summer. While tomatoes thrive in full, bright sun you can still grow them in part shade if they get two to six hours of sun and the area is bright most of the day. Some tomato varieties grow better in reduced light than others. In general, any of the types developed to grow well in cool climates are also well-adapted to less light. Determinate varieties grow best in low light but these types are often more bushy than true climbers. Look for such Siberia (Solanum lycopersicum "Siberia"), a cold-climate standard red tomato that grows well in low light, or Oregon 11 (Solanum lycopersicum "Oregon 11"), a variety developed to ripen early in the growing season.
Increase your chances of successful growing in low-light gardens by starting with good soil. If you're gardening in a raised bed, use a soil mixture composed of equal parts compost, vermiculite and peat moss. In a regular garden bed, amend the soil with 2 to 4 inches of compost dug into the top 8 inches of the soil. Hand weed around the plants to minimize competition for nutrients during the growing season.
- Mother Earth News: Best Shade-Tolerant Vegetables
- Harvest to Table: Vegetables and Herbs for Growing in Shade
- Cornell University Growing Guide: Pole Beans, Green Beans (pole), Wax Beans (pole)
- Cornell University Growing Guide: Peas
- Cornell University Growing Guide: Summer Squash
- Cornell University Growing Guide: Tomatoes
- Sonoma County Master Gardeners: Peas
- Local Harvest: Shady Vegetable Garden Plans
- Tradewind Fruits: Siberia Tomato
- Oregon State University Extension Service: OSU Develops Tomatoes Especially For PNW Gardeners
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