Losing Daylight? Plant These 6 Vegetables

As we turn back the clocks and get into darker months, it's good to start thinking about planting fruit and vegetable seeds that will fair well with little sun exposure. The colder days may make you think of warm soups and hearty roasts, and winter is the prime time to grow many nutritious greens that you can add to any meal. Here are some veggies you can grow that don't need much sunlight!

Fennel

Fennel is a vegetable that produces long, tassel-like stalks (stalks are the leafy green part of the plant) that have a mild licorice flavor. The bulbs are edible and can be used raw or cooked; they're often added to salads, soups and stews.

Lettuce

Lettuce is a cool weather crop, which means it can be grown in the fall or spring. A single lettuce plant will produce leaves for weeks on end if you harvest them frequently. This versatile leafy green is the perfect base for your fresh and easy salad. It's one of the most versatile veggies around, so it's never too early to start planning this fall's meals.

Bok Choy

Bok choy is a great choice for patio gardeners who want to grow something delicious in just a few square feet, and it doesn’t require much sun. Bok choy is harvested in 45 days, which means you can have a new crop every month if you keep the plants going. It grows best in cool weather and needs lots of water, so make sure your soil is moist before planting your seeds.

Spinach

Spinach is a cool-season crop that can be grown in your garden throughout the winter months. It’s easy to grow and is a good source of vitamins A and C, iron and calcium.

Spinach requires rich soil with lots of organic matter that drains well but retains moisture. If you have heavy clay soil, add peat moss or compost to improve drainage before planting spinach.

Kale

Kale is a leafy green vegetable that is a cool weather crop. It can be grown year round in areas with mild winters.

Kale is high in vitamins A, C and K, as well as calcium, iron and fiber. The dark green leaves are usually eaten raw in salads or cooked like spinach. Kale can also be steamed or sautéed with other vegetables for a side dish or served as part of an entree such as lasagna or casserole dishes.

Arugula

Arugula is an edible plant belonging to the Brassicaceae family. Arugula is also a cruciferous vegetable and a leafy green vegetable. The leaves can be consumed raw or cooked.

Arugula has small flowers with four petals, each about 1/4 inch long, that are white with yellow tips or tinged red near the base of the flower stalk (pictured). Arugula is a fantastic choice for those living with little sunlight exposure.

As you can see, there are plenty of veggies that don’t need a lot of sunlight to grow. So if you are looking for an easy way to add more greens into your diet, consider some of the options listed above! Not only are most of them hassle-free, but they also make for exceptional (and tasty!) additions to any nutritious recipe!