There is a huge amount of interest in growing your own food, but most edible plants need lots and lots of sunshine. What should you do if you are stuck with a shady balcony? Thanks to my friend Adriana over at Victory Home & Garden, I came across this list of plants that will thrive in the shade. I’ve linked each vegetable to Organic Gardening Magazine’s instructions for growing that type of plant.
- Salad Greens, such as leaf lettuce, arugula, endive, cress, and radicchio
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower (follow the instructions for broccoli above)
- Peas
- Beets
- Brussels Sprouts
- Radishes
- Swiss Chard
- Leafy Greens, such as collards, mustard greens, spinach, and kale
- Beans
I can personally attest to the ability of lettuce, broccoli, beets, radishes, chard, and spinach to grow in the shade. I’ve also grown carrots in the shade without a problem. Beets and chard are beautiful, colorful plants, which is a bonus, as many of the plants often suggested for shade are on the boring side.
