Beginner Gardening: Sun and shade, 1 by DaleTheGardener

DaleTheGardener wrote:
Two moons,

My definition of full sun, for a plant that grows best in full sun would be an area of the garden than gets direct sun for half of the summer daylight hours or more. More being better.

If your sitting down in the place where you are going to grow your 'full sun' plants and you look to the east you should see the sun by 9-10am. Look to the west and you should see the sun at 3-4pm. The sun has the strongest light between 9-4 and full sun plants need strong sunlight.

If you have less than a ideal 9-4 sunlight (7 hrs) your minimum would be around 3 hrs. At 3 hrs of direct over head sun you are going to end up with a plant that is little weak in the stems. Many plants that say full sun will grow fine under part day sun.

Since you are 30-40 miles in from the coast do you still have a lot of low clouds, like Seattle does? That can make a difference. I would check around the neighborhood and see what plants do well in the same conditions that you have. If you see those folks out working in the yard ask them for advice too.