The aim of this review is to summarize our previous research information recently reported regarding the use of preharvest treatments (shade nets) applied either directly or in combination with other techniques (grafting) to maximize and maintain the phytochemical content of vegetables. The use of colored nets for shading vegetables to protect against stress (intense solar radiation, heat stress, drought, drying winds and hailstorms) during the summer months is an effective and inexpensive method, provides plant protection and altered microclimate and modified intensity and quality of light, supporters more intensive vegetative growth, longer vegetation, increase yield, reduces a number of physiological disorders and improves the morphological and nutritional quality of vegetables. Under color nets plants provided tomato fruits with thicker pericarp, firmness, higher content of lycopene, less percent of physiological disorders and better tolerance to transport and storage. Shade-grown plants generally have higher total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, increase leaf area, head diameter of the lettuce, and the total yield, decrease physiological disorders and increased the content of total phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Further investigations using shade nets alone or in combination with grafting should be performed, to ensure the use of strategies for managing plant growth of different plant species with limited physiological disorders, for increased marketable yield and maintain quality during storage.