Greenhouse and laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effects of shade treatment and substrate components on plant growth and physiological activity of Taraxacum officinale. Substrates combined with coco peat and perlite (ratio 70 : 30 and 50 : 50, v/v) showed higher growth and yield than their single substrates (p<0.05). Shade treatment also significantly reduced plant height, root length, root diameter, leaf area, chlorophyll content, and fresh weight (p<0.05), compared to no shade. Contents of total phenolics [mg chlorogenic acid equivalents (CAE) $kg^{-1}$ DW] and total flavonoids [mg naringin equivalents $kg^{-1}$ DW] showed higher amounts in shoot parts than root parts of T. officinale, with shade than no shade. The antioxidant potential of the methanol extracts from the plants dose-dependently increased. DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl radical) free radical scavenging activity was higher in leaf parts than in root parts of the plants, and no shade than with shade.