Some plants just can’t get enough sunshine. They love basking in full sunlight, which means 6 to 8 hours or more every single day. These sun-loving vegetables and herbs grow strong and full of flavor. And here is a useful trick: you can use their height and light shade to help more delicate, shade-tolerant crops thrive underneath.
Let’s look at the best full sun garden plants and which shade-loving companions grow well with them, so you can plan smarter sun and shade layouts in your vegetable garden.
If your garden has cooler spots, you may also like our guide on shade-loving vegetables and herbs.
If your garden has cooler spots, you may also like our guide on shade-loving vegetables and herbs.
Best Vegetables and Flowers That Love Full Sun
These garden favorites are made for full sun. Give them bright, open spaces with at least 6 hours of direct light and watch them grow strong and productive:
- Tomatoes: Need lots of sun to ripen and taste sweet.
- Peppers: Heat and sun help them grow faster and stronger.
- Cucumbers: Love the light, especially when climbing a trellis.
- Beans and Peas: Do best in warm, sunny spots.
- Cauliflower: Needs sun but prefers cooler weather — great for spring or fall.
- Marigolds: Bright, beautiful flowers that thrive in full light and repel pests.
- Onions: Develop the strongest flavor when they get lots of sun.
These plants are your garden sunbathers, so place them where the light is strongest and most consistent during the day.
Shade-Loving Companions That Grow Beneath Full Sun Crops
Some leafy greens and herbs prefer a break from strong sun. You can plant them under taller full sun crops to give them gentle, filtered light and protect them from summer heat.
Here’s how to make great matches:
- Lettuce: Loves partial shade. Plant under tomatoes or peppers to stay cool and crisp.
- Spinach: Stays tender when grown under beans or trellised cucumbers.
- Arugula: Grows well under pepper plants, where it gets filtered sunlight.
- Chives: Pair with tomatoes or peppers. These low-growing herbs do not block sunlight and help with pest control.
🌞 Smart Tip: Use tall, sun-loving plants like natural umbrellas to protect shade-sensitive greens from bolting in summer heat and to keep soil cooler.
Garden Planning Tips for Full Sun Beds and Mixed Planting
Here are simple ways to use sunlight wisely when planning full sun and mixed beds:
- Plant tallest crops to the north of shorter ones so they do not block light for sun-loving vegetables.
- Use trellises for cucumbers and beans. They create vertical structure and light shade below for tender greens.
- Mix sun lovers and shade lovers in the same bed to save space and create natural shade where it is needed most.
- Start with a sun map: watch your garden at different times of day to see which spots get the most light and which stay cooler.
- Add mulch to help keep soil cooler and moist for shade-sensitive plants.
- Use the easyDacha gardening app. It tells you what to do, when, and how, using tips from gardeners in your climate zone and your bed’s sun and shade pattern.
The easyDacha gardening app simplifies planning full sun and mixed beds by analyzing your space and suggesting crops that will thrive based on sunlight, water access, and soil type. It also creates step-by-step to-do lists tailored to your location and climate so you never miss an important task.
🌱 Join our pre-launch list today to get early access and make your gardening journey smoother, more productive, and easier to plan.
With a smart layout and the right mix of full sun plants and shade-loving companions, your garden will be both beautiful and productive.With smart layout, your garden will be both beautiful and productive.
1. Can I grow lettuce in full sun?
It can grow in full sun, but it will bolt quickly. It does better under tall crops like tomatoes or peppers, where it gets some shade.
2. Do tomatoes need full sunlight?
Yes. Tomatoes need about 6–8 hours of direct sun each day for strong growth and sweet fruit.
3. What plants grow best under trellised cucumbers?
Spinach and leafy greens do well. They enjoy the shade and cooler soil under the trellis.
4. Are marigolds good for vegetables?
Yes. Marigolds love the sun and help repel pests, so they make great border plants around vegetable beds.
5. Can I mix herbs like chives with sun-lovers?
Yes. Chives grow low, do not block light, and can help protect tomatoes and peppers from pests.
6. What’s the best way to combine sun and shade plants?
Use tall sun-loving plants to provide natural shade for heat-sensitive crops underneath. Think of it as building natural sun protection directly into your garden plan.
You may also like
• Shade-Loving Garden Friends: Learn which vegetables and herbs thrive in partial shade and how to protect tender crops from heat.
• 7 Best Companion Plants for Juicy Tomatoes: smart pairings for strong growth and pest control.
• Top 10 Companion Plants for Onions, Lettuce, Cucumbers & Peppers: great matches for popular sun-loving crops.