Fruits and Vegetables That Grow in the Shade

Among vegetables, leafy greens are the most tolerant of shade, including kale, lettuce, spinach, arugula and chard. Related to both beets and spinach, Swiss chard tastes a little like both and is fairly easy to grow. Look for varieties in beautiful shades of red, yellow and pink, and pair this veggie with cool-season blooms like pansies in both beds and containers.

A tried-and-true favorite that's experienced recent popularity, kale is prolific in cool seasons and in shadier areas of the garden. Varieties run the gamut from green to purple, curly to smooth. Harvest leaves when young for the best flavor and often for an extended harvest.

Broccoli is a member of the Brassica family, which also includes cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower. All Brassicas can take a little shade. Plant broccoli in spring and fall and harvest the heads when the buds are still tight. Sunlight and time will cause the buds to open up as the plant tries to flower.

Like other Brassicas, cauliflower doesn't mind some shade, and in fact, the heads need shade to stay white. The process is called blanching, and while some varieties are self-blanching, most require help from the gardener. Blanching involves tying the outer leaves over the developing head — when it’s roughly 2 to 3 inches across — to block sunlight.