It is day 2 of January 2020 which means it is day 2 of #whatgardeningtaughtme2019. The topic is My Favorite Gardening Advice. I gave it some thought and figured that there is an ultimate advice to gardening: It’s all about the Sun!

After years of trying to grow food I have to say: it’s location, location, location! Although I tried numerous times there is nothing that can make up for too little sun. And by too little I mean too little of both quantity and quality of sunshine.

If you pay attention to only one recommendation on the seed package, let it be the sun exposure. Plants that get too little of sunshine don’t grow well, are prone to pest and disease and only produce little or poorly tasting fruit. There is nothing like a SUNRIPENED tomato!

You can make up for poor soil by simply building soil, fertilizing for quicker results or even by growing you plants in pots or raised beds that you fill with the right kind of earth. You can control the amount of water your plants get and take care, that they have enough space.

But there is nothing you can do if your garden is shaded out by a house or a neighbor’s tree. You can’t make up for it. The same goes for your climate of course.
You can try your best but even in an artificially lit greenhouse you’ll only get mediocre results if you try to grow Pineapple in Siberia.

So what to do? Take note of the hours of sunlight each part of the garden is getting and put the most sun hungry plants in the best positions. Put small ones south and bigger ones more north to avoid that they throw shade at each other. Choose plants that do well in your climate and try to help them at the start of the season with hot beds or indoor seeding if necessary. And then let them shine! 😊☀️
What is your favorite gardening advise?