Vegetables: “Full sun” vs. actual sunlight?
Question by Mark:
Vegetables: “Full sun” vs. actual sunlight?
I live in a part of California where the sun pretty much always shines in the summer. So lets say I’m trying to grow a vegetable that requires “full sun”. Obviously during peak hours needed for growth, many parts of the U.S. will not experience our fairly reliable sunshine. So where they do fine with 6-8 hours of frequently cloudy skies, can we get by in a spot with fewer hours of theoretical sunshine (say 4-6) yet as many actual hours of sunshine and still raise happy “full sun” vegetables?
In other words, is it the total actual sunshine that matters, or the total possible sunshiine?
Does the occasional long day make up for consistent but shorter daily sunshine?
Maus,
I’m well aware of that. Here’s a scenario–a spot in Houston can get 8 hours of sun (not too blocked by walls, etc.), yet the sky is only sunny 60% of the time. A spot in California can get 6 hours of sun, and is sunny 100% of the of time. Actual “sunlight” hits the area 4.8 hrs in Houston, 6 hrs. in California. Which is better for full sun vegetables? (assumes clouds block sun 100% for sake of this hypothetical argument, and so on).
Jessica0,
I am indeed looking at areas that get around 4 hours of direct sunlight–but those are right around 11:00 to 3:00 or the ideal times and the sun is pretty much always out (my city even has “sunny” in its name). So as you suggest, I might as well try–nothing lost if it doesn’t work.
I do know that sometimes growers, especially using greenhouses, can speed up growth by increasing the length of daylight. I’ve also heard (can’t guarantee it’s true) that people in Alaska can squeeze in quick summer crops because day length is so long in spite of a short growing season. But presumably day length and light level should be not exactly the same.
“Full sun” means in a place that is open to receive sunshine (where there is sun) most of the day. In other words, it’s not a partly shaded place (by a tree or building). It doesn’t mean how much actual sunlight although that does play a part. So, YES, you can have happy ‘full sun’ veges!
This is the type of question I always ask!
I find the theory intriguing but I think in actuality it must not be so or else the theory could be applied to day length in controlled growing environments (like greenhouses/growrooms/etc.).
I have recently been using an Aerogrow – for example – on seedlings. I know the light is not really “sunlight” but the light generated is pretty broad spectrum and those lights are on for 18 hours a day – more than double what they would supposedly need of real sunlight – or “daylight”.
Are you asking this question because you want to grow veggies in a spot that only gets the 4-6 hours of sunlight? If that is the case – I would still say go for it – especially if you are in California. You might need to do more pruning/staking of things like tomatoes since they tend to get leggier in less sun and you might not get a bumper crop but you will def get some veggies from your garden. I am in New Jersey (on a small neighborhood yard) and I grow just about everything – it does not all get the requisite 8 hours either and we still had veggies to share with the family and neighbors.