Vegetables and herbs generally prefer sun, but some crops can tolerate shade and are good choices for balcony or patio container gardens that fall in shade most of the day.
Leafy crops are commonly the best choice for shade gardens; they crops have large surfaces for photosynthesis. Fruiting crops such as tomatoes and peppers demand sun to reach maturity and ripen and od poorly in shade.
As possible, grow crops in containers that are easily moved to a part of the garden when some sun shines part of the day.
Shade-Tolerant Crops for Containers:
- Arugula
- Beets
- Chard
- Cress
- Endive
- Herbs—cilantro, oregano, parsley
- Kale
- Lettuce and greens
- Mustard
- Radicchio
- Radishes
- Scarlet runner beans
- Sorrel
- Spinach
- Swiss chard
- Blackberries
- Currants—red and black
- Gooseberries
- Raspberries