How much sun does a vegetable garden need?
Vegetable gardens need plenty of sun in order to be successful. But how much sun is enough? It depends on the vegetable you plan to plant. Some vegetables require full sun (6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day), while others grow better in semi-shade.
Full Sun Vegetable Plants
These vegetables require 6-8 hours of direct sunlight a day:
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Summer Squash
- Melons
- Eggplant
- Cucumbers
- Okra
- Sweet Corn
Partial Shade Vegetables
These vegetables can do well in partial shade, so 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day is ideal:
- Beets
- Carrots
- Lettuce
- Radishes
- Potatoes
- Green Onions
- Spinach
- Kale
Getting the Right Exposure
To ensure your vegetable plants get the right amount of sun, make sure you put the taller vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers in the sunniest parts of the garden, and the shorter vegetables such as lettuce and spinach in the slightly shadier spots.
Keep in mind that your garden may get more or less sun depending on the time of day or season. Talk to experienced gardeners in your area to get an idea of how much sun to expect in your area.
Remember, if your vegetable garden is not getting enough sun, you may have unsatisfactory harvest, poor quality vegetables, and diseases that tend to occur in too much or too little sunlight.
Good luck and happy gardening!
