Importance of the Sun

• A lot of direct sunlight is the most important thing in a vegetable garden if it is to produce abundantly, so planning its location is critical. Sunlight is not only important for photosynthesis but also for a number of other physiological functions of the plants. Ideally a vegetable garden should get no less than eight hours of sunlight in a day.
  
  

Ideal Spot for a Vegetable Garden

• A vegetable garden should not be placed too close to large trees. A good rule is to place the garden 10 feet farther from the outermost reaching branches of large close-by trees. This is not only to resolve issues related to shade but also to keep the garden away from the roots of the trees that can steal essential nutrients from the vegetable garden. If not all vegetables can be placed in full direct sun, then the areas of partial shade should be used for those vegetables that can do equally well in partial shade. These include lettuce, cauliflower, kale, broccoli, Swiss chard, spinach and other similar large-leaf vegetables. The areas which are likely to receive the brightest and longest sunshine should be saved for the root vegetables like potatoes, onions and carrots. Though the root vegetables have less green leaf area, they need greater levels of sustained energy from the sun in order to support the development of the vegetables under the ground.