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Guide · 7 min read

Measure direct sun at the planting position

A repeatable method that separates direct sunlight from brightness, reflection and a regional assumption.

Editorial guidance without independent agronomic review

Garden containers observed through changing bands of direct sun and shade during the day.
Guide at a glance
  1. Fix the pointObserve the final planting position.
  2. Mark intervalsCount only direct sunlight.
  3. Use a bandRepeat by season instead of claiming false precision.

Fix the point before counting

Observe at the height and position where the leaves will grow. A wall, fence, hedge, shed, tree or neighbouring plant can change exposure over a very short distance.

Count direct sunlight only

Record intervals when direct sun reaches the point and forms a defined shadow. Bright cloud, reflected light and a sunlit wall do not count as direct sun in the planner.

Add separate intervals rather than treating morning and afternoon brightness as one continuous period.

Repeat near the growing season

Sun angle, deciduous leaves, new structures, shade cloth and the crop canopy all change exposure. Repeat after a meaningful seasonal or site change.

Use a conservative band

One clear day or phone reading cannot establish a permanent threshold. If the result lies near a choice boundary, use the lower band and observe the crop response.

Sources, scope and limits

Sources support the stated context. They do not turn a broad guide into individualized advice or transfer rights to reproduce the original material.

  • United Kingdom home food garden editorial synthesis — version 1

    Global Garden Planner

    Original seven-profile model, planting bands and en-GB corpus. It remains an editorial draft until an independent UK agronomic review is recorded.

    Editorial role: internal synthesis · Rights position: Original project content · Accessed: 2 August 2026

    Open source

  • Positioning vegetables

    Royal Horticultural Society

    Supports observing sun, shade, shelter and competition at the final growing position.

    Editorial role: fact reference · Rights position: Copyright source used only as a linked factual reference; no RHS text, image, planner or calendar is reproduced or adapted · Accessed: 2 August 2026

    Open source

  • UK regional climates

    Met Office

    Supports broad east–west, north–south, maritime and topographic context. The project profiles and month bands are original and are not a transformation of Met Office regions or data.

    Editorial role: fact reference · Rights position: Website information linked and paraphrased under the applicable Met Office terms; no map, table, dataset or service is redistributed · Accessed: 2 August 2026

    Open source