Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
These zones can be important when choosing perennial plants, but
most vegetable gardeners grow annuals within their area's growing
seasons. Most areas in the United States and Canada also have four
seasons-spring, summer, fall, and winter. The majority of gardeners
grow vegetables in the spring and summer, although some garden-
ers in the southern United States can grow during the fall and winter
months as well. Growing seasons can be extended by using green-
houses or other structures to give vegetable plants protection from
inclement and unpredictable weather.
The length of your growing season will be pretty standard but can
vary depending on the weather. You should also be aware of the
average amount of rainfall in your area when choosing your site. The
general climate of your area is important to consider, but each
garden site will have specific issues.
The Importance of Sunlight
Sunlight plays a big part in growing a successful vegetable garden.
This is the one area you have the least control over. When choosing
your garden site, you will need to consider the amount of sunlight
these areas get throughout the day. Most vegetables need an aver-
age of six hours of sunlight in order to grow. But don't fret if you
only have a shadier spot. There are a few plants that will grow in a
bit of shade, and perhaps you can grow other vegetables in contain-
ers that can be moved around to follow the sun's path.
The sun alters its path throughout the seasons, so take the time to
track its progress. Jot down the time when sunlight hits your area
throughout the different seasons and record how long it stays there.
It may not matter if your smoothie garden site is deprived of sunlight
in the winter because you won't be growing anything at that time,
