Most vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, require full sun (at least six hours of direct sunlight per day) in order to thrive; however, roots crops such as carrots, turnips or potatoes can still flourish even in less sunny locations.
Leavened vegetables such as lettuce, arugula, kale and spinach can thrive when grown under partial shade (i.e. morning sun and afternoon shade). Furthermore, they tend to climb well up supports such as trellises or trellis systems.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers are an integral component of many backyard vegetable gardens, providing both aesthetic appeal and an abundance of seeds to feed birds and wildlife. Sunflowers thrive best under full sunlight during long, hot summers to reach their full bloom.
Sunflowers require at least six hours of direct sunlight each day in order to thrive and bloom as intended. Heliotropic flowers follow the sun throughout its journey across the sky, so ample light helps them remain upright as they grow tall. Look for areas in your garden which receive between six and eight hours of direct sun without shadows cast by buildings or trees.
If your garden features any shady spots, sunflowers in pots could help ensure they remain happy and healthy. Or try growing seedlings in peat or paper pots before transplanting once frost risk has passed.
Mulching sunflower plants is highly recommended to maintain soil moisture and control weeds. Watering daily during a hot, long summer is necessary to avoid stress and encourage fast growth. As they mature, look out for signs of fungal diseases such as rust, downy mildew, Sclerotinia mold or snail and slug pests which could otherwise hinder their progress – these can be avoided using wire fencing or other barrier devices.
Spinach
Full sun plants require six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day, including most root crops such as carrots, radishes and beets as well as tomatoes, eggplant and pepper family vegetables as well as leafy greens.
Plants that produce edible fruit and flowers require even more sunlight than their leafy green counterparts; their photosynthesis relies heavily on it in order to convert carbon dioxide and water into the nutrients they require for survival.
Many fruits and vegetables that we consume can thrive when grown under partial sun conditions. Vegetables whose leaves we consume like lettuce, pak choi, salad rocket (arugula), silverbeet (chard) can flourish even in shade, partial sunlight or spots with only three to four hours of daily sun exposure.
Planting spinach and pea seeds early isn’t too late in spring if your soil can be lightly worked, especially if the temperatures remain cool enough for seed germination to occur quickly. You can help speed the process along by covering rows with plastic as soon as they’re planted, and taking steps to limit weeds while providing consistent light levels for young seedlings to emerge more quickly. This method also provides consistent lighting conditions as they grow.
Lettuce
As daylength increases in summer, partial shade to full sunlight should be the preferred environment for growing lettuce, kale, spinach and silverbeet leafy greens to avoid bolting (where their seeds produce flower stalks that produce bitter leaves).
Even in gardens with ample shade, it is still possible to grow these vegetables by planting early or late in the season and providing light protection with shading such as trellises, cloth suspended from poles or fences. Furthermore, shorter maturing times or slow-bolting cultivars will extend harvest season into autumn.
If planting from seed, sprinkle seeds lightly across the soil surface and cover them with 3mm of dirt, keeping moisture levels consistent until seeds germinate, which should take approximately 2-4 weeks. If using starter plants instead, follow instructions on their seed packet for spacing and thinning instructions; mulch your garden bed as temperatures heat up for added weed suppression and moisture retention. Fertilize using Scotts Osmocote Plus Organics Controlled Release Vegetable & Herb Fertiliser 6-8 weeks post planting for best results!
Tomatoes
Tomato plants require 6-8 hours of uninterrupted sun each day. Before planting, take measurements using a light meter or watch to gauge actual sunlight exposure; make periodic checks throughout the growing season to make sure nothing is obstructing their sun exposure. Tomatoes also need frequent irrigation during heat waves to provide enough moisture; water them at soil level rather than spraying over leaves (which could invite disease). Morning sun provides more intense lighting without excessive heat levels.
As vegetables take longer to mature, more sunlight is necessary for proper development and full potential realization. Tomatoes and many other fruit-producing veggies require at least eight hours of direct sun daily in order to thrive and produce edible fruit; roots or leaves-only veggies (like kale, spinach and arugula) can still grow, though at slower rates and may never fully mature; sunlight also raises soil temperatures which affect root development as well as temperatures in the air; for this reason planting in partially shaded areas may be better for such leafy crops but not tomatoes.
Beans & Peas
Your vegetable garden, like any factory, requires power. Plants harness it from the sun’s light rays by absorption through leaves into photosynthesis cells where carbohydrates are created that fuel growth and food production until harvest time arrives and all produce is harvested from its soil roots.
Your vegetables need plenty of sun – at least six hours each day – but don’t fret if there is less sunshine available; many vegetables can still thrive even with partial shade conditions.
Root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, potatoes and radishes thrive in full sun while fruits-bearing plants prefer indirect light sources; any shade may hinder their growth rate.
Leafy greens like kale, spinach and Swiss chard thrive in cool shady locations with plenty of light shade, but require regular and light applications of water in order to remain moist. Too much irrigation could result in wilting and stunted growth if done too frequently – instead aim for regular applications with light spraying of water onto soil instead of overdoing it!
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are sun worshipers, needing daily sunshine in order to bloom and bear fruit. But like its summer showoff counterpart, direct sunlight can also be detrimental: too much direct exposure can result in sunscald and leaf burn; to protect their fragile blooms against this damage, cloud cover or shade should be provided, just as needed, to modify its intensity; in the case of cucumbers this repositioning is critical as they’re susceptible to disease.
When choosing your cucumber variety, look for one resistant to common diseases and pests such as bacterial wilt, leaf spot and powdery mildew. Plant early and water them regularly so their roots have time to establish themselves before summer heat sets in. Harvest time varies according to variety; typically 60 days from seedlings being planted onwards until harvest time arrives. Trellising can be used to maximize productivity; seeds or plants should be placed 1 inch deep with 3 to 5 foot spacing between rows in rows; vines on trellises should thinned out when reaching 4 inches high before thinned out using thin out methods.
Peppers
Peppers (member of the tomato-family) depend on sunlight to facilitate photosynthesis and produce delicious fruit. Sunlight also influences their size and flavor profiles; peppers thrive best when exposed to warm, full spectrum lighting – an ideal environment would be outdoors; otherwise use artificial lighting that mimics its spectrum for best results.
When planting in garden beds or raised containers, amend the soil with organic compost and humus for fast growth. Mulching can help retain soil moisture and cool temperatures, although mulch should only be added after the last spring frost has passed.
Plant peppers 6-8 weeks before the last frost date – either directly from seed or purchased transplants. They thrive in containers and raised beds alike; just make sure it gets lots of sunshine!
High-elevation sites tend to experience large diurnal temperature variations, and pepper plants at these locations may suffer from heat stress if given inadequate time to adapt to changing conditions. To mitigate heat stress effectively, provide pepper plants with direct sunlight (ideally south facing) for half of each day before moving them into shade when dusk comes. Shade cloth can help minimize effects of intense sunlight exposure while strategic watering and fertilization help mitigate stress as well.