Sun exposure is one of the most important factors for a successful food garden. To find the best sun exposure for your garden, consider the orientation of the garden, the surrounding environment, and the amount of sun that your plants need to grow and produce.

Sunlight is critical factor for plant growth

In this blog post we will explore the best sun exposure for a food garden, what to consider when choosing a location, and how to make the most of the sun in your garden. When possible adjust how much sun each plant receives by using a trellis, shade cloth, choosing the best location in the raised bed and best spot in your garden.

Choose the right location for your garden. Growing a food garden is a rewarding and fulfilling experience, as it allows you to produce your own fresh and healthy produce. However, to ensure a successful harvest, it is important to choose the right location for your garden that provides optimal sun exposure. Sunlight is one of the most important factors for plant growth and development, and without it, your plants may become stunted, yellow, or even die.

6-8 hours of direct sunlight is optimal. The ideal sun exposure for a food garden is 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Most vegetables and fruits require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight to grow and produce well. The hours of direct sunlight your garden receives can vary depending on the time of year and the location of your garden. For example, during the summer months, the sun is higher in the sky, and your garden will receive more direct sunlight than in the winter when the sun is lower in the sky.

You can get by with 6 to 7 hours of full sun for many crops. But 8 to 9 hours of sun is ideal for most edible plants during mid-summer. You can grow some veggies and herbs in shadier areas with 5 hours of sun, although the plants will be smaller. Some crops like lettuce don’t like the full sun in mid summer.

Know how to read the sunlight information on plant labels.

• Optimum sun: 7 to 8 hours

• Sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun (no shadows).

• Part-shade: 4 to 6 hours of direct sun.

• Shade: less than 4 hours of direct sun.

Choosing a location for your raised beds.

Consider the orientation of the garden. A south-facing garden will receive the most sun, while a north-facing garden will receive the least. If you have a choice, choose a location that faces south or west, as these orientations will receive the most sun. If you have a north-facing garden, consider planting shade-tolerant plants that can still grow in lower light conditions.

Think about the surrounding environment. Trees and buildings can block the sun from reaching your garden, so look for a location that is not surrounded by large trees or tall buildings. If you already have a garden, pruning or removing trees can help increase the amount of sunlight that reaches your garden.

Tracking the sunlight in your yard

Create a sun tracking chart. Your garden will be more successful if you know how much sun each of your garden spaces gets. There are many online tools that help you make a sun tracking chart of your garden. For example, try out “Sun Mapping Your Garden the Easy Way” by Garden Fundamentals.

Angle of the sun changes. Remember that the angle of the sun is different depending on the season which makes shadows from buildings and trees appear at different times and locations. It’s best to count the hours of sun in your yard from April to September while the trees have their leaves.

Maximizing sun exposure

Place tall plants on the north side of the bed. Once you have found the right location for your food garden, you can use a few strategies to maximize the sun exposure. One way to do this is by planting taller plants on the north side of the garden and shorter plants on the south side. The tall plants won’t block the sun from the short plants.

Trellises or other structures can maximize sun exposure for climbing plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans. They can also help shade the soil, which can keep the soil cooler and prevent the plants from drying out too quickly.

You can also use reflective surfaces like mirrors or aluminum foil to reflect light back into the garden. Reflective surfaces can be placed on walls or fences to direct light into the garden, which can help increase the amount of sunlight that reaches the plants.

You can use shade cloth to reduce the amount of sun that reaches your garden. Shade cloth is a type of fabric that is designed to reduce the amount of light that reaches your garden. You can use shade cloth to create a cooler environment for your plants, which can help them grow and produce more fruit. Some tomato plants shut down fruit production when the temperature is above 85º. Shade cloth can lower a plant temperature too.

Growing in less than 6 hours of sun

Vegetables that can grow in low light conditions, with less than 6 hours of sunlight per day, include:

1. Salad greens such as lettuce, spinach, and mesclun mix. These cool-season crops need about 4 hours of direct light per day.

2. Root vegetables such as radishes, carrots, beets, and turnips. These crops can tolerate low light but may grow more slowly than with 6 hours of light.

3. Peas and beans, which are legumes, can grow in low light conditions, but they need more light to flower and set fruit.

4. Garlic and onions, which are bulbs, do not require much light and can be grown in low-light conditions.

5. Some herbs such as parsley, cilantro, and chives can also grow in low light conditions.

It's important to note that while these vegetables can grow in low light, they will still grow best and produce a more abundant harvest with 6 or more hours of sunlight per day. Additionally, it's essential to provide adequate water and nutrients to support their growth.

Safe temperatures for plants

Know the highest and lowest safe temperatures for each crop. Some spring veggies survive only light frosts. Some veggie seeds need certain temperatures to germinate. Some plants like tomatoes, peppers and squash must be planted outside when all danger of frost has passed. Spinach seeds can stay in the ground all winter and germinate in very early spring, plus produce a bigger harvest.  See high and low temperature tolerances for popular crops in our Planting Calendar for zones 5b and 6a.

Too much direct sunlight. Plants can suffer from sunburn and other types of damage if they are exposed to too much direct sunlight. Additionally, excessive heat can cause water to evaporate more quickly, which can lead to dehydration and other problems for plants. Tomatoes shut down fruit production above 85º. Recovery time varies by tomato variety.

Shade cloth protects plants from too much heat and sun. It can help to protect plants from harsh sunlight and other extreme weather conditions like heavy rain and hail, allowing for better growth and yield. Shade cloth can be used to filter sunlight and create a more moderate, comfortable environment for plants to grow in.

Shade cloth setup. Select the best gauge (thickness) of shade cloth. A thicker material will provide more shade and protection for plants, but may be more expensive. Secure cloth to posts or other structures using clips or ties. Pull tight to prevent it from sagging or touching the plants. Fasten securely to prevent blowing away by the wind.

“Grow Your Own Food” blog posts

See the full list of our Grow Your Own Food blog posts. Each post is assigned ”tags” which are under the post title. If you need a quick answer to a gardening question give us a call or send a text to our customer support team – support[at]deep-roots-project.org AND 708-655-5299.

Deep Roots online store

See our online store for details about prices, ordering and delivery of raised beds, planter boxes, microbe-rich compost, worm castings, leaf mulch and more. We don’t sell traditional soil, since we use 100% compost as our growing medium. Our online store has 2 sections – (1) raised beds and planter boxes and (2) compost, worm castings, fertilizer.

Please contact our customer support team before placing an order online so we can assist you with the details and answer your gardening questions. You can pay by credit card in the store or by check.

(708) 655-5299 and support[at]deep-roots-project.org

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