where do I put my greenhouse and veg patch ??

[Leralc]

I have a south facing garden....along the south fence there is a HUGE willow tree (not in my garden but one behind my south fence) this blocks the sun in most of the garden in high summer for about 2 hours a day between 12 and 2 ish...

the west side border of the garden gets sun from sunup to when the sun move overhead and behind the tree. The east border gets it from about 1.30pm to about 6.30/7pm...

The southern borders gets little or no sun so can't run a veg patch down that side.....I was going to put my greenhouse in the south-west corner and run the veg patch down the western border, but I am not sure now which side of the garden would be better placed for a veg patch!

what do you think ?

[Two_Sheds]

south facing is always best.
Next best is west facing.

[Leralc]

south facing is always best.
Next best is west facing.

I cant plant in a south facing spot as that would run along the patio although anything my pots will be there...just to clarify and as I am a bit blonde can you confirm that west facing would be the border on my eastern fence ?

does that apply to the greenhouse too ? and also in future should i assume afternoon sun is best ?

this is onlt my 2nd year of grow your own, and even then I only did it in pots, so I am as near as dammit a total novice

[rustylady]

If you're planning a veg patch in the soil, avoid the willow tree. It's not just the shade it casts, but the spread of the roots you need to consider.

[Leralc]

If you're planning a veg patch in the soil, avoid the willow tree. It's not just the shade it casts, but the spread of the roots you need to consider.

Thanks the patch will be on the other side of the garden if I put my patch in a west facing position....

will my greenhouse still get enough sun if I place it east facing ? It would get sun in the morning and then on the roof of the greenhouse in the late afternoon (i think! I'm now wondering how much of a shadow the bloody tree casts!!) Thing is if I put the greenhouse west facing it would eat into my patch

[COMPOST CORNER]

the Gh not getting sun between 12 and 2 could be a blessing if we get a hot summer.
Could you split the veg patch and grow salad crops and other things that prefer to be a bit cooler on one side and put GH in the West and grow some other sun loving crops outside it?

[Leralc]

my husband just said that in the south west corner, the greenhouse would be mostly in the shade so it cannot go there - so if i put it west facing it would get sunlight from about 9.30/10am directly on the roof and then as the sun moves until 12pm/2pm when in the shade then some sun from about 3.30 ish till 6.30 ish....this is for a 6x 4 (or bigger) greenhouse.....the other alternative is to buy something like this: Aluminium Step In Planthouse 150cm x 70cm includes Shelving NO STOCK - PC195 - Cold Frames & Cloches - Unbranded - DIY and Tools from DIYTools.co.uk - Your First Stop For All Things DIY ! which woul mean the greenhouse isnt unsightly and stuck out iykwim ?

or we just buy 2/3 of these

Wooden Growhouse

all this because we don't live in the right "parish" to get an allotment

[Snadger]

I can't visualise your plot but would say your greenhouse should really take priority for any sun you get, and that includes winter sun.

[Leralc]

I can't visualise your plot but would say your greenhouse should really take priority for any sun you get, and that includes winter sun.

thanks that has helped me decide because only if situated east facing would the greenhouse benefit from the most winter sun my west facing gets little or no winter sun!

[piskieinboots]

My understanding of placing a greenhouse is to have it east-west facing, it will get the longest available light in that orientation all year round