Vegetables to grow with limited sunlight

Question

Our backyard receives limited sunlight due to three massive trees in a small area. There is only about 2 hours of direct sunlight per day to my vegetable patch.

Could I get some suggestions for vegetables that can be grown with limited sunlight?

I have had success with carrots, potatoes, lettuce and Asian greens but would like some variety.

Answer 1

• I'd recommend experimenting with other crops that supposedly require "full sunlight". Your yields will be lower than if you had full sun, but you may still be able to get a crop.

• In addition to the crops in Mike Perry's answer:

  • Cole crops do ok with limited sunlight: cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower (limiting sun can even help protect the heads), kale, etc.
  • Also related are mustards, which can give your salads extra flavor.
  • The chicory family is another leafy crop that would give you variety: radicchio, endive, etc.

• Plant garlic in the fall, harvest in the spring.

• Are the trees deciduous? If so, that means you get more sun in late fall / early spring.

  • Plant peas in early spring.
  • Plant spinach in fall, overwinter, and harvest in spring.
  • Plant spring onions.

• Consider berries, especially if you're open to perennials in this space.

  • Strawberries.
  • Blackberries thrive in shade.
  • Shrubs: huckleberries (native to North America), if you can get them in Australia. And currants, gooseberries, elderberries.
  • Groundcovers like cranberry and low shrubs like lingonberry.

• Beyond just different crops, you can mix it up by planting different varieties of crops.

  • Different types of carrot have different shades of flavor (and sizes and colors).
  • Beets come in different colors and sizes. Plant some for greens and some for roots. (Similar for turnip.)
  • Chard makes a rainbow.
  • If peas are successful, you can select different varieties for shelling or eating whole, and the tips/shoots are supposed to be good in stir fry (though I have yet to try this).

• Lastly, not a crop recommendation, but you can get a lot of variety by mixing up your preparation.

  • The lowly cabbage, for example, starts with a choice of green or red. From there, you can shred it with carrot for coleslaw (with any number of mix-ins and dressings), stuff it, make sauerkraut, stew, soup, etc.
  • Don't even get me started on the endless possibilities provided by potatoes, especially when mixed with some of the other vegetables that do well in limited light.

Answer 2

Generally speaking, leafy vegetables are the most shade tolerant eg:

• Cabbage

• Chard

• Kale

• Lettuce (which you already mentioned in your question)

• Spinach

But if you've also had success with root vegetables (carrots & potatoes), you could try some other root vegetables eg:

• Beetroot

• Onion (not a true root vegetable, but a bulb vegetable that should do ok! in your situation)

• Parsnip

• Radish

• Sweet Potato

• Turnip

Below, I've gathered together some relevant reading that I believe you will find helpful/useful:

• Best Shade-Tolerant Vegetables

• Best Vegetables to Grow in the Shade

• Vegetables for the Shady Garden

• Growing Food Where the Sun Don't Shine

• Gardening in the Shade