By Debra Knapke

(Abridged version of an article published in the Perennial Plant, Winter 2013, a publication of the Perennial Plant Association)

Plants for the Edible Garden that is in partial sun:

Not all of us have full sun (6 + hours) areas for our food gardens.  Below is a list of plants that will tolerate less than ideal light conditions.

Paw paw fruits

Fruits  (caveat – production may be decreased)

currants; gooseberries; many of the brambles

(blackberries, raspberries, etc.); chokeberry; rhubarb; pawpaw

Vegetables   beets; cole crops: broccoli, cabbage, collards,

kohlrabi, turnips, etc.;  greens, especially in the summer months;

Swiss Chard ‘Bright Lights’

horseradish; peas; potatoes; spinach;  Swiss chard

Guideline: 

Vegetables that are the fruit of a plant usually require

more sun; 6-10 hrs. – eggplant, tomatoes, chilies, beans

vegetables that are a vegetative part of the plant tend to be more

tolerant of part sun/shade – 3-6 hrs.

Herbs (some prefer shade)   angelica, anise hyssop, basil, borage,

calamint, catnip, chamomile, chervil, chives, cilantro/coriander,

fennel, horehound, lemon balm, mints, oregano, parsley, rosemary,

sage, scented geraniums,  sorrel, summer and winter  savory, sweet bay,

Chives

sweet cicely, sweet woodruff, tarragon, thyme, valerian, violas, wintergreen