Sunlight
For those who are new to gardening, nearly THE most important tip I have for you is pay attention to the sun!
The sun moves: Depending on the season, the sun will track differently across the sky. In summer it is super high up, the days are long, and it’s pretty intense out there. In winter, it tracks low, the sun will stream in through North-facing windows and get in under tall trees. Shadows will be longer and you’ll find that the Southern side of buildings and fences might be in shade all day.
When picking plants pay attention to how much sun they want, and pick a spot in your garden that will get the right level of sunlight in summer AND winter. Or, plant in pots so you can move them accordingly.
Full Sun: 6+ hours of sunlight a day. For fruit bearing edibles, you’ll generally get a bigger yield with more sun so even try aiming for 8!
Partial Shade: More like 3-4 hours of sun a day - and it’s better if the sun is in the early morning, not the afternoon - the morning sun is less harsh.
Shade: Not many plants like to grow in the dark but there are some that really don’t like the sun’s rays. Grow them in a bright spot - but not where the sun hits them. Filtered/indirect light or dappled shade is often ok too! Anywhere where you can’t really see a shadow if you hold your hand out.
