Which Direction to Orientate Vegetable Rows (2024)

FAQs

What direction should vegetable rows run? ›

Most folks agree that planting north-south is marginally better, with the rationale running as follows: When rows run east-west, a tall crop in a south row can easily shade out a shorter crop in the next row north.

An east-west orientation has some advantages for frost protection, while a north-south orientation slightly increases the amount of sunlight reaching the plants. Since there is no major advantage, consider designing your garden to maximize efficiency and beauty.

South-facing gardens get the most sun exposure. From sunrise to sunset, the garden is lit up (as long as it isn't shaded by trees). South-facing gardens are great for planting summer annuals like vinca and angelonia, or sun-loving vegetables like tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers.

The best place to plant your tomatoes is in a location within your garden that gets full sun—at least 8-10 hours of direct light every day, though the hours don't necessarily need to be consecutive. For people who live in the Northern Hemisphere, south- and west-facing garden plots will get the most sun.

Many gardeners prefer to plant their rows in a north to south direction. This planting orientation maximizes the light reaching all the plants in the garden by minimizing shade cast by one row of plants onto the next.

Where terrain permits, corn rows can be planted in either a north-south or an east-west direction. Sunlight penetrates more deeply into the plant canopy with north-south than with east-west rows.

Leafy Greens:

Vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, and kale are ideal for an east-facing garden because they prefer cooler temperatures and don't require full sun to grow.

Rows Vegetable Garden Layout Plan

The other rule of thumb when using this layout plan is to organize your spacing so that your tallest growing vegetables are planted on the north side of your rows. Follow them with medium height vegetables, and then plant your shortest crop on the south side of the rows.

Most experienced gardeners like to keep wide rows to no more than 3 feet wide to ensure that you can easily reach the center of the row from both sides. Keep at least 18 inches of space between the wide rows to provide access; 2 to 3 feet is even better.

As a general rule, put tall veggies toward the back of the bed, mid-sized ones in the middle, and smaller plants in the front or as a border. Consider adding pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects that can not only help you get a better harvest, but will also prey on garden pests.

Is it better to have a garden facing east or west? ›

Leafy greens like spinach, cabbage, and arugula grow amazingly well in east-facing gardens, as do colorful flowers like impatiens and fuchsias. West-facing gardens take the second place prize for the most amount of sun. The soft morning light is usually blocked, but the sun in the afternoon shines down brightly.

Southern facing windows will provide the most light (especially during winter). You can place all of your houseplants that love sunlight in windows facing this direction. Just remember that with a lot of sun comes higher temperatures. Be mindful of your plants and if their foliage starts to burn.

Most experts believe that the best way to orient garden rows in the Northern hemisphere is north to south. This gives the most sun exposure and allows for ample air circulation. When crops are planted east to west, the rows tend to shade each other.

That said, most recommendations agree that planting north-south is marginally better. The north-south orientation allows the sun to penetrate the garden by shining down the rows. This is especially helpful during the winter gardening period when the sun stays relatively low in the sky.

A north-south orientation is best for low-growing crops, allowing direct sunlight to reach both sides of the bed. For taller crops such as pole beans, peas and tomatoes an east west orientation works best. Leave enough space in between beds to easily maneuver around.

As a general rule, put tall veggies toward the back of the bed, mid-sized ones in the middle, and smaller plants in the front or as a border. Consider adding pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects that can not only help you get a better harvest, but will also prey on garden pests.

Choose a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. For most vegetables, locations with 8-10 hours of direct sunlight are ideal. Better results and harvests can be achieved with more sun exposure. A vegetable patch south or west-facing location is ideal.

The Layout. Locate beds so that plants receive maximum sunlight and do not shade each other. Determine the north/south axis of the site and lay out the beds either in a north/south or east/west direction, not on a diagonal.