Sun position in sky question

[pickledtink]

I really don't know where to post this so I've plumped for general.

Owing to my weird position the Sun leaves even the top bit of my garden entirely by mid October. As it drops lower in the sky it's blocked by the house and others. I gave up trying to grow anything out there years ago during the 'dark' spell. To be honest it's a pretty dank gloomy spot during that time but this year I'm trying to keep some veg going.
The front though tiny is in wonderful bright sunshine but i can't grow veg there as I'm on the main Seafront road.
I cannot remember when the Sun gets higher again and have been searching the net to try and find a way to work it out. No joy.
Would it be exactly the same length of time each way from the shortest day on 21 December? So if we lost even the little bit on the top beds from mid October does that mean that won't even come back until mid March-ish? Or maybe it doesn't work like that. Dunno. Can anyone help?

[Nicos]

I'm only guessing too, but I think you are right.
As you are by the coast, don't you get more UV ? Maybe this would compensate a little for the lack of direct sunlight?
You could warm up the soil with cloches, fleece or plastic to make up for lost time( if that is what is concerning you).
Use of ornamental mirrors and white painted fencing/walls would help too.

[Earthbabe]

I'd be inclined to agree with Nicos that you are probably right about the timing. As for mirrors/walls etc. you may be able to use foil to reflect light. Mirrors can be very pricey.

[Nicos]

I bet you could pick up some old mirrors at the tip.
Didn't someone on the Vine have a hobby of making mosaics from bits of old tiles?- I recall a fantastic photo of a fish someone had made.( just a thought -could make a multifunctional ,modern piece of artwork from pieces of mirror for the garden )
'They' do say the first hobby of an allotment holder is gardening, and the second is looking for a bargain!!!

[pickledtink]

I'm only guessing too, but I think you are right.
As you are by the coast, don't you get more UV ? Maybe this would compensate a little for the lack of direct sunlight?
You could warm up the soil with cloches, fleece or plastic to make up for lost time( if that is what is concerning you).
Use of ornamental mirrors and white painted fencing/walls would help too.

More UV? Do we? Blimey I never knew that. Feel very privledged now.
I was mainly worried about the plants simply not getting enough light and going all weak spindly and yellow. Can't paint fences . walls etc as don't have any. It's all vegetation. The lack of light has definitely stalled everything. One bed gets a dappled sliver on it from the side for a scant 20 minutes or so and that's the only spot where greens are actually growing at all. My Kale and Broccolli are in there but it won't be long before they don't get even that.

[pickledtink]

I'd be inclined to agree with Nicos that you are probably right about the timing. As for mirrors/walls etc. you may be able to use foil to reflect light. Mirrors can be very pricey.

There just isn't any light to reflect. Think gardening at the bottom of a small canyon. Even in the height of Summer the bottom only gets a bit of dappled light in some parts for about 40 minutes. The other bits are hacked out of the cliff face up to about 30 foot. After that it's totally sheer and covered in Hawthorn which we need to keep in place to cut down on earth slips. I nearly got brained by a head sized boulder crashing down after the heavy rains recently. I tend my tiny top bed hanging on to a rope tied onto a young Oak growing half way up.

[Alice]

Hello Pickletink, the days get shorter by 28 minutes a week (4 minutes a day) from the longest day in June to the shortest day on 21st ? December then they get longer by 4 minutes a day until until the longest day on 21st ? June. Hope that helps you with your calculations.

As a matter of interest the birds know all about this. I watch the time the jackdaws go home , the blackbirds start their squabble about who's sleeping where, the wrens pile into the ivy for the night and they all do it a few minutes earlier every day.

[Earthbabe]

There just isn't any light to reflect. Think gardening at the bottom of a small canyon. ....... I tend my tiny top bed hanging on to a rope tied onto a young Oak growing half way up.

PT I have a picture of you doing intrepid Indiana Jones type stuff. My neighbour's son would think that was a hoot and then fall off and break his arm (something he is rather prone to!)

[Earthbabe]

Alice where to you find that sort of info.

[Alice]

I thought it was general knowledge Earthbabe, but if you look in your diary at the times of sun rise and sun set you'll see it confirmed there.

[Earthbabe]

Thank you Alice. Will have a look. Otherwise it might be in my moon gardening book or similar. My RCN diary is generally pants for stuff like that, it does however give me reference ranges for blood results - not useful on the lottie unless cornered.

[Alice]

Hello Earthbabe, I used to have an RCN Diary,but I'm delighted to report I don't have one anymore. Retired from all that. I think the RCN diary should include the phases of the moon. It would help you with your moon gardening and alert you to the worst times for the lunatics. ( My own personal experience and quite a body of research backs that one up. Or have you noticed that yourself)

[pickledtink]

Thanks for that you two.
I was rather hoping the Sun got higher quicker than it got lower but suspected not.
Well. Nothing I can do. We'll just have to see how they do.

[Earthbabe]

Hello Earthbabe, I used to have an RCN Diary,but I'm delighted to report I don't have one anymore. Retired from all that. I think the RCN diary should include the phases of the moon. It would help you with your moon gardening and alert you to the worst times for the lunatics. ( My own personal experience and quite a body of research backs that one up. Or have you noticed that yourself)

I've noticed it myself and that's just the staff I think it has the phases of the moon in but don't rely on it. I got a book on gardening and planting by the moon in my MOM parcel last month. T'was great cos I was going to buy one. That includes all the astrological info for biodynamic planting etc. I hadn't thought to look in it. I've got so many books on the go at the mo. Strangely none of them nursing related. I'm hoping to do away with the RCN diary in the next few years.

[Earthbabe]

Good luck PT, hope something makes it.