Well, yes, it can make a huge difference, and sometimes you don't know in
advance because we don't always live in one house, and sometimes have to move
the residence when isn't conducive to knowing what will grow where on a
property. Horticulture's technical term is called the "sun window." Folks who
build solar homes use sun window calculations as a major builder's tool.
It is the rectangle of light as well as the partial and full shadows in your
yard throughout the year. Here, further north (we're at 49th parallel) it is
quite important to know your sun and shade patterns. We don't get much --
sometimes not any -- snow, and only a few days of freezing, but I once had a
side yard that got absolutely no sun from November through February, so
sometimes that garden froze hard for over 2-3 weeks because there was no sun to
thaw it out. No vegetable garden there! The few feet inside or outside the sun
window and the few temperature degrees difference makes all the difference to a
half hardy plant. It is the problem in reverse during the hot season . these are
called "sun/heat days" which is when the sun hits a plant and/or the temperature
is above 25 degrees before 1000 hrs. in the morning. Pollinators will stop
flying that day, and some pollen becomes non-viable. If your plant has a very
short fertile time, a sun day again makes all the difference as to whether or
not it will set fruit and seed. Some plants -- tomatillo is an example -- will
drop all its blossoms and not reset them that season.
If you feel like a Luddite and/or want to have fun with your kids, you draw a
rough diagram of your property, then calculate your sun window by going out any
time on the 3 nights of the full moon and watch its path. Once at rising ( O
degrees azimuth) to zenith at midnight back to the AM setting. Why? The path of
the full moon is the path of the sun 6 months later. The more full moons you
watch rise and/or set, the more accurate measurement you'll have. This is very
handy if you plan to build a greenhouse or Lanai, put in a new garden the next
spring, or just bought some half hardy bulbs in late autumn and are not sure if
they need to go in one spot, or a spot "3 feet over to the left." You can find
good info on milkwood.net or findmyshadow.com. and both sites allow you to
calculate your sun window from the site.
Jo Canning
Vancouver Island
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