Did you know that most vegetable gardens require little sun? In fact, many vegetables will do just fine even with as little as 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Most gardeners assume that they need full sun of 6+ hours of direct sunlight each day to grow healthy plants. But the truth is that many vegetables can thrive in partial shade. And if you live where it rains a lot, then you may not need any sun at all.
This article will cover how much sun vegetable gardens and different types of vegetable plants need.
Different Levels and Types of Sunlight for Vegetables
Understanding how and when the sun shines on your vegetable garden is important because it affects what vegetables will grow best there.
There are 5 main levels of sunlight:
- Full Sun – 6 or more hours of direct sunlight each day. Plants grown in this type of environment have access to plenty of energy from the sun’s rays.
- Partial Shade or Partial Sun – 3 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Some crops such as lettuce, spinach, carrots, and beets prefer partial shade. These veggies like to get some sunshine but also benefit from the cooler temperatures of partial shade.
- Full Shade or Low Sun – Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight each day. This level of sunlight is too low for most vegetables. They don’t like being exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time. You might see some leaves turn yellowish before dying.
- Dappled Shade or Light Shade – Bright sunlight that’s dappled and filtered through trees and leaves above.
- Deep Shade – Means there’s no sunlight. You won’t be able to grow vegetable plants there.
It’s common knowledge that sun rises in the East and sets in the West in the evening. Throughout the day, the sun’s levels of light that is emitted will fluctuate from partial shading to full.
When planning a vegetable garden layout, you can use this information to determine which areas of your yard will receive what amount of sunlight to grow different vegetables.
Sunlight is essential for fresh produce to thrive. In order to make sure that your vegetables get enough sunlight, you’ll want to know when the sun will rise and set.
You’ll also need to know if there are times during the day when the sun won’t be visible. Knowing this information will help you plan out your garden.
Why is Sunlight Necessary for Vegetable Plants?
The primary reason why we need sunlight is so that vegetable plants can photosynthesize. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen.
All that takes place inside plant cells called chloroplasts. The chloroplast contains enzymes that capture sunlight and use it to create sugar molecules (carbohydrates) needed for growth.
The sun provides light for plants to absorb and convert into usable energy. Watering a plant alone does not feed it. It also needs sunlight to produce oxygen.
Photosynthesis needs raw materials like light, water, air, and nutrients to work properly. Without all these things together, a plant cannot survive.
If you water your plants without providing them with sunlight, they will wilt and die. Soil nutrients must also be provided to the roots of vegetable plants. Without sunlight, soil nutrients cannot be converted into usable energy.
How Much Sun Different Vegetables Need
Not all vegetables need the same amount of direct sunlight. Different types of vegetables require different amounts of sunlight.
For example, lettuce requires less sunlight than other vegetables because it grows quickly. On the other hand, tomatoes and peppers need full sunlight.
Here are lists of vegetables that will grow at different levels of sunlight:
Full Sun Vegetables – 6+ Hours of Direct Sunlight
These vegetables will need 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day to thrive:
- Beans
- Cucumbers
- Eggplants
- Melons
- Peppers
- Squash
- Tomatoes
- Fruiting Vegetables
Partial Shade or Partial Sun Vegetables – 3 to 6 Hours of Direct Sunlight
Wondering what vegetable plants can grow in partial shade? These vegetables will are able to grow in partial shade lighting conditions. It will do only need 3-6 hours of direct sunlight per day:
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Radishes
- Turnips
- Root Vegetables
Full Shade or Low Sun Vegetables – Less than 3 Hours of Direct Sunlight
These vegetables will grow with less than 3 hours of direct sun each day:
- Arugula
- Asian Greens
- Cabbage
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Mustard Greens
- Parsley
- Scallions
- Spinach
- Leafy Greens
Plan a Vegetable Garden According to How Much Sunlight There Is
Planning a vegetable garden takes time and patience. You need to consider a variety of factors when deciding what type of soil you should use, what plants will grow well together, and what kind of fertilizer you’ll need.
When planning a vegetable garden, you should consider how much sunlight is available in your area and home. You can then decide where to put your vegetable beds based on the amount of sunlight they will receive.
Vegetables should be planted in a specific place in order to receive enough light during the day. The amount of sunlight needed depends on the type of plant.
You should know when the sun shines on the exact place where you want to plant your vegetables. That way, you’ll have more control over what kind of vegetables you grow.
You should plant vegetable plant seeds in specific spots in your garden based on the amount of sunlight they get, as well as the height of neighboring companion plants. You don’t want to put tall crops too close to short ones because they’ll get less light.
How to Give Vegetables in the Garden Optimum Sunlight Levels
North-South planting ensures that the sun reaches every part of the pot. This allows the plants to receive enough sunlight each day to grow properly into healthy food.
This is much better than the other methods of planting seeds in an East-West direction because the sun will be able to evenly coat the vegetables. Once it switches positions at certain times of day, some of the veggies will cast shade on the ones behind them.
Taller plants should also be in the northern area, while shorter plants should be in the south areas. This allows the shorter plants to still receive the direct sunlight they need to thrive.
How to Properly Map Out the Plan for a Vegetable Garden?
Before planting vegetables, you should know what kind of sun exposure each type of plant needs. You should also decide if you want to grow them in rows or in groups. Finally, you should know how many plants you’re going to need before planting.
Vegetables need plenty of light to grow well. A garden should be planted far enough away from trees to get adequate sunlight.
Trees absorb water from their roots. Roots grow deep into the soil. As trees get older, their roots spread farther away from the trunk.
You should not plant your vegetables near a tree or other large object that will absorb most of the water and nutrients needed by your crops. This way, you won’t waste time trying to get them watered.
- Related article: What is the Best Vegetable Garden Layout?
Vegetable Gardens and Amount of Sunlight Final Thoughts
There are several things you should keep in mind when planting a vegetable garden.
First, you should know how much sunlight your garden area gets during the day. Then you can plan what types of vegetables you can plant and where to plant them in the garden.
If you plan ahead, you’ll be able to enjoy fresh produce for years to come, no matter how much sunlight your garden gets.
Here are other articles on vegetable gardens you might be interested in:
- Easiest Vegetables to Grow
- How to Keep Rats Out of the Vegetable Garden
- How to Grow Vegetables Indoors
- What Soil for Vegetable Garden?
- How Often Should I Water Vegetable Garden?
