row direction - Page 2

Ricky Shaw · October 28, 2015

Short ones in the front, just like class photos, that's always made sense to me.

kurt · October 28, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyrupp

Which way do you run the rows in the garden? North to south or east to west? and why do you do it that way

Row direction does matter.

http://www.farmanddairy.com/top-stor...es/250815.html

Worth1 · October 28, 2015

If it is possible terracing is by far the best way to take advantage of the sun.

And for those that like to compare different areas of the US or world I found this nifty sun angle calculator on line.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...1YTLg87t_cfKVw

Cole_Robbie · October 28, 2015

Sun intensity is different for everyone. Some of my best plants have come from areas that don't have full sun all day. I lose a lot more fruit to sunburn than I do lack of sun.

Zenbaas · October 29, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

Sun intensity is different for everyone. Some of my best plants have come from areas that don't have full sun all day. I lose a lot more fruit to sunburn than I do lack of sun.

I'm glad to read that. Will be planting out some tomatoes that will have very little direct sunlight daily.

Fusion_power · October 29, 2015

I did a study several years ago on shading effects in a pecan orchard where rows were oriented in different directions. The optimum orientation from a perspective of maximizing sun exposure is actually in favor of rows oriented northwest to southeast adjusted for the latitude of the orchard. This takes into account shading effects between the trees especially in the early morning and late evening. Tomatoes are obviously not as tall as pecan trees but I suspect similar concerns would show up.

The issue with north-south oriented rows is that the plants shade themselves early and late on the side away from the sun. Orienting east-west has a similar problem, but one side of the plant is partially shaded most of the day. Northwest to Southeast alignment permits sun to reach slightly more leaf surface area for a few extra minutes daily. At the end of the season, it adds up to a measurable advantage.

Ricky Shaw · October 29, 2015

An excellent explanation, thank you.

AlittleSalt · October 29, 2015

Mine are planted northwest - southeast because of the slight hill they are on. It is also how our property faces - so it looks right too.

October 28, 2015	#16
Ricky Shaw Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro Posts: 1,910	Short ones in the front, just like class photos, that's always made sense to me.

October 28, 2015	#18
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	If it is possible terracing is by far the best way to take advantage of the sun. And for those that like to compare different areas of the US or world I found this nifty sun angle calculator on line. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...1YTLg87t_cfKVw

October 28, 2015	#19
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Sun intensity is different for everyone. Some of my best plants have come from areas that don't have full sun all day. I lose a lot more fruit to sunburn than I do lack of sun.

October 29, 2015	#21
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,250	I did a study several years ago on shading effects in a pecan orchard where rows were oriented in different directions. The optimum orientation from a perspective of maximizing sun exposure is actually in favor of rows oriented northwest to southeast adjusted for the latitude of the orchard. This takes into account shading effects between the trees especially in the early morning and late evening. Tomatoes are obviously not as tall as pecan trees but I suspect similar concerns would show up. The issue with north-south oriented rows is that the plants shade themselves early and late on the side away from the sun. Orienting east-west has a similar problem, but one side of the plant is partially shaded most of the day. Northwest to Southeast alignment permits sun to reach slightly more leaf surface area for a few extra minutes daily. At the end of the season, it adds up to a measurable advantage.

October 29, 2015	#23
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Mine are planted northwest - southeast because of the slight hill they are on. It is also how our property faces - so it looks right too.