Is Morning Or Afternoon Sun Better For Vegetable Garden?

Seasoned gardeners know whether their plants are morning glories or evening stars. However, newbies might be at a loss of whether their vegetable patch prefers morning or afternoon sun. To help you answer this question, we've done some research: here's what we found.

Morning and evening sun is ideal for root-bearing crops that require partial sunlight. Stem, leaf, or bud plants prefer the morning sun or evening shade. On the other hand, fruit-bearing vegetables need direct sunlight to form the elements necessary for the fruit.

Are you racking your brain on what we mean by this? Keep reading as we shed light on how much sun suits plants. With that said, let's dive right in!

Vegetable garden in late summer. Herbs, flowers and vegetables in backyard formal garden. Eco friendly gardening, Is Morning Or Afternoon Sun Better For Vegetable Garden?

Does A Vegetable Garden Need Morning Or Afternoon Sun?

You cannot move vegetable gardens or patches, but you can choose which vegetables to plant there. It all depends on how exposed the patches or gardens are to sunlight.

The intensity of the morning sun is almost the same as the evening one. It is mild and suitable for vegetables that thrive in the shade or partial shade. The sun is scorching between ten in the morning to four in the afternoon.

Another factor you must consider when choosing which vegetable to grow is your climate zone. The intensity of the sunlight varies in different zones. Therefore, it is strongly advised for newbies to consult before settling for any vegetable varieties.

How Can You Tell What Type Of Sun Exposure A Vegetable Needs?

Not all gardens are placed equally under the sun!

You can plant root vegetables for those gardens that are only pampered with morning or evening sun. The root-bearing plants recommended are carrots, parsnips, potatoes, turnips, beetroot, and radishes.

Stem, bud, and leaf plants enjoy the morning and evening sun immensely. Gardeners can boldly plant kale, a variety of cabbages, artichokes, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, lettuce, and spinach.

Avoid overwatering these vegetables because they might drown or have root rot if the water can't dry.

Here is a post on: Can Lettuce Survive A Freeze? [And How To Prevent It From Dying]

Where To Face A Vegetable Garden

Vegetable garden in late summer. Herbs, flowers and vegetables in backyard formal garden. Eco friendly gardening

Starting a garden doesn't have to be a mysterious case. Once you have cut out your vegetable patch, you should start planting. But wait, you need to map out how the rows.

In the Northern hemisphere, garden rows orient from North to South. It helps avoid plants shading each other as the sun goes from East to West. Air circulation is intensified in this arrangement.

Rural scene with summer houses and gardens in sunny day.

You don't have to take out a compass for exactness, but the orientation should be pretty close for healthy and leafy vegetables. Additionally, watch out for steep slopes.

You should have perpendicular rows on steep slopes; otherwise, you'll scoop your onions and carrots at the bottom of the hill.

No need to run for the hills to understand the concept. Here's a video explaining the layout:

Things To Consider When Starting A Vegetable Garden

Aerial top down view of man working in vegetable garden

Sunlight is essential; however, it isn't the only thing to consider when setting up a garden. Gardening isn't for the faint-hearted; a recurring harvest is any gardener's dream.

Before you start harvesting, you must ensure that you have the following:

Wind Protection

Vegetables have tender stems, and they might not survive gusts of wind. Erect a fence to protect your vegetables or place the garden where there are no wind gusts.

The last thing you want is a vegetable garden that has gone with the wind.

Water Availability & Drainage

Vegetables require water but not too much. Don't set your garden too close to trees and walls because these areas have arid soils. Additionally, avoid marshy or swampy areas.

Ideally, ensure that water is easily accessible to your garden without causing dry spells and waterlog.

Soil Quality

Vegetables for your garden should grow in soils that drain well. The earth should have the appropriate sand, silt, and clay ratios to accommodate most vegetables.

To find out if the garden soil drains well, dig a foot-deep hole, pour in half a gallon of water, and see how long it takes to drain. It should take hours, not days, to drain.

Work

No garden grows on its own. Unless you have magic beans which could rise to the skies, you'll need to put in a lot of work. The result is rewarding because you'll have organic food on your table in no time.

Have a look at this gardener's guide on Amazon.

Can You Create Shade In An Open Garden?

Even after orienting your vegetable garden, you might be in a dilemma when the season changes. Summer days are longer and hotter, which might stress the plants.

To resolve this, you could use a shade cover. Various shade covers are made from different materials that help reduce soil evaporation and lower the temperatures by a few degrees.

These shade covers are, in most cases, hail-resistant.

You can purchase this garden cover on Amazon.

Which Vegetables Love Direct Sun?

You might be limited if you restrict yourself to planting vegetables that love morning or evening sun. If you have a large vegetable garden, use the area in the patch exposed to direct sun for other vegetables. 

Sun-loving vegetables are those that bear fruit. They are eggplants, chillis, tomatoes, watermelons, cantaloupes, cucumbers, and squash.

Remember, you can plant these vegetables on raised beds in smaller gardens and create variety in your vegetable garden.

Are Raised Garden Beds Better Than Sectioning?

An urban community garden.

Sectioning can also be done in raised garden beds. One doesn't affect the other, meaning raised garden beds can have sections.

Planning a vegetable garden helps you increase the harvest, control the microclimate, regulate drainage, improve soil structure, and make your garden accessible. So, before you start sectioning, you might also want to raise your garden bed.

Raised garden beds in the Northern hemisphere allow you to start planting early because the soil isn't frozen. The three raised beds are containerized, raised ground, and supported raised.

When To Plant Vegetables And When To Harvest

Bio vegetable box, freshly harvested vegetables in organic garden - local farming concept

Depending on the weather and temperatures, you can start sowing vegetables in March to May.

After you have planned your vegetable garden layout, sectionalized or raised it, and studied the microclimate, choose and plant the seedlings. Moreover, you can plant seeds directly in your garden.

Harvesting usually starts in mid-summer. But it would help if you looked at the crop for tenderness, color, and sheen.

More experienced gardens know when to begin harvesting their crop and serve them immediately to avoid losing flavor. Alternatively, you could taste the plant for readiness.

Please note that some vegetables can be planted early but harvested later because they mature slowly.

What Season Is Best For Planting Vegetables?

Vegetables need to be planted in the right season to be exposed to the right amount of sun and heat. Growing vegetables too early or too late affects the quality and quantity of your harvest.

Moreso, some vegetables might give you harvest twice when planted in the right season.

You must understand when to plant cool or warm-season crops. Dig a little deeper or request the help of a professional when choosing what to grow in your garden.

When Can You Start Tilling The Soil For A Vegetable Garden?

Planning your garden is essential. Ideally, you should till your garden in the fall or early spring.

Add fertilizer when tilling the soil. You could also plan your garden for the next season as you gain experience.

Click here to buy this gardening tool set on Amazon.

Which Vegetables Are Best For Small Gardens?

Homeowners don't need sprawling lands to start gardens. Newbies are advised to cultivate small manageable patches in their yards for gardening.

It helps them get experience, and the garden is well tended to because they have enough time to go around it. To start a small garden, you must also adhere to the same rules as though it were a big one.

Enough sun and proper soil drainage apply unconditionally. Thus the best crops of a mini vegetable garden are beets, chillis, carrots, basil, pole beans, edible flowers, and lettuce.

Can You Make Money Gardening?

Healthy Chard Plants Growing in Raised Planter Bed

Yes, you can, but don't get over in your head. Gardening should be relaxing and a hobby to get in touch with mother nature.

On the other hand, it can be way more than that. Living costs are skyrocketing, and your garden could save you money.

Get the most out of your garden, depending on the size, by:

  • Planting vegetables on containers for a wider variety.
  • Cultivating plants that produce twice in a season or abundantly.
  • Purchasing a composite bin to get manure readily at no cost.
  • Acquiring a solar panel for gardens with lots of shade to improve water drainage.
  • Introducing chicken or bees for honey and eggs.
  • Installing a water tank to catch rainwater for watering your garden.

By and by, you will have a thoroughly balanced garden with breakfast and dinner and possibly some extra produce for sale.

Here is a portable garden solar panel on Amazon.

To Finish It Up

Now that you understand which vegetables need the cool morning and shady evening sun don't miss out by omitting crops that love lots of sunlight.

Maximize your garden despite its size and location. If you are a first-time gardener, don't feel intimidated and start small until you have a sure footing.

Before you go, you. might want to check out this related article— How To Grow Vegetables In Sandy Soil

Is Morning Or Afternoon Sun Better For Vegetable Garden?

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