[elfy]

 Hi thought i would ask your opinions on which way to sow ,N to S or E to W ,have read in books favouring both ways . I usually plant E to W but have taken on a new allotment so am starting from scratch again.Glad to hear your thoughts  cheers Elfy 

[Headgardener22]

I always plant rows north-south so that the sun goes up the middle of the row and the plants don't shade each other (however, its probably also because its the way I've laid it out). It probably doesn't make any difference at all.

[Ice]

Plant east to west in beds that are north to south to maximise light.  Just don't stress about it if you can't get it exact, it will all be ok.

[arugula]

Have a look here:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=91254.msg1014764#msg1014764

[arugula]

Plant east to west in beds that are north to south to maximise light. 

Its the opposite way round in our patch to maximise the east -> west path of the sun.

[Yorkie]

I always plant rows north - south if the bed size permits.  That way the sun can get down each side of the row equally, and there aren't any 'front' rows to shade the rows 'behind'

[Ice]

I'm right, you're all wrong.    Actually, there is no right or wrong way of doing it either way something is bound to shade something else unless you only have one row and not several.

[goodtogrow]

Direct sunlight provides more light than plants need.  An average of 45 units (candellas or lumens, can't remember which) is what plants need, about 90 units is what direct sunlight provides - ref 'Principles of Horticulture' Bamford et al.

There's enough 'bounced' light, off the soil and other plants on an open allotment to meet those needs.  Direct sunlight is positively harmful for some crops and planting to produce partial shade is a good strategy.  With all the talk of watering bans I think that plants which are partially protected from direct sunlight will do better than those exposed.

The East - West debate applies most to the orientation of greenhouses, to capture summer sun, but also to receive more Northern light in the winter.

Tekky stuff like this some people might find boring, so I apologise to them here and now!  Good luck everyone however you go about your growing.

[allot2learn]

I feel that the correct spacing of plants is more beneficial than orientation. It's works for me anyway.

[JayG]

Even at the summer solstice the sun doesn't track directly overhead at our latitudes so I think giving thought to what will create shade and where (both now and when the crops grow to their expected size) is probably the most important consideration.

Some crops need full sun to deliver in our short summers, some don't mind, or even welcome, a bit of shade.

[goodtogrow]

Agree jayG, that some plants welcome more sun than others.  But under conditions of water shortage in the soil they can't use it.  Direct sun will drive the plant more than it can cope with under these conditions.

 Tomato plants can wilt during the day, even when fully established, only to revive themselves in the cool, and lower light, of the evening, because they can still get enough water then to stay turgid.

[JayG]

Agree jayG, that some plants welcome more sun than others.  But under conditions of water shortage in the soil they can't use it.  Direct sun will drive the plant more than it can cope with under these conditions.

Watering is certain to be an issue for many this year, but plants which are already a bit marginal in our climate (e.g. sweet corn and many winter squashes) still need to be grown in full sun otherwise they just won't deliver.

We are already getting plenty of posts about irrigation and water conservation and I suspect there will be a lot more before summer's over! 

[goodtogrow]

I think you've hit the nail on the head there, JayG.  If we avoid growing those plants that need full sun, because we're expecting water shortages, we won't have a problem.