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