How much sun do I need to grow?
Full Sun: Plants requiring full sun need at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. These plants generally produce the most fruit, flowers, or foliage when grown in full sun. Partial Sun/Shade: These plants can tolerate a mix of sun and shade, typically requiring between three to six hours of sunlight per day. Expect most part sun to sun plants to bloom most prolifically in full sun and produce fewer flowers in part sun. When part shade to shade is listed for a plant, that means it prefers to grow in less than six hours of direct sunlight per day with most of that being the less intense morning sun.Intensity matters. Sunlight reaches its highest intensity between 10 a. Morning sun is the least intense. A few hours of morning sun isn’t as intense as a few hours of mid-day and afternoon sun, realizing the hot afternoon sun can burn the leaves of some plants, even those of certain sun-loving varieties.
What is the best direction for sunlight in a garden?
East-facing gardens receive morning sunlight and tend to be cooler in the afternoon, making them ideal for cool-season crops. South-facing gardens receive the most direct sunlight, making them great for heat-loving plants, but they can also be prone to drying out quickly. South-facing walls, windows, and gardens will get the most sun! That’s because the earth is on a slight tilt, so the sun shines down on us from an angle. If you have a south-facing garden with barely any trees, you’ll probably have direct sun shining down all day.
Is it better for a garden to have morning sun or afternoon sun?
The truth is, it depends on your plants’ needs and your gardening goals: Choose the morning sun for gentle warmth, moisture retention, and cooler season crops. Opt for the afternoon sun to satisfy the needs of drought-tolerant, sun-loving plants that flourish under intense heat. Generally, both morning and afternoon sunlight are beneficial for plant growth. For most vegetables and herbs, the morning sun is superior because it is gentler and cooler.Morning light is essential for tomatoes because it dries dew, reduces nutrient loss through evaporation, begins photosynthesis, and provides quality exposure to initiate the daily growth cycle, especially when the sun is at its strongest around noon.