Question
I am trying to decide where to place two small raised beds for a home vegatable garden.  My yard has lots of sun during parts of the day, but no place has sun all day.  How many hours of sun a day are needed to grow the common vegatables people plant(tomatoes, beans, zucchini, etc.)?
Thanks for any help you can give me.

Answer
It depends upon where you live. Tomatoes, beans, corn, cucumbers, carrots, beets, like full sun and heat. Tomatoes do not like nights below 55 degrees, and will benefit from being next to a hot southern wall.   Squash will benefit from some shade mid day, and can be planted behind corn for some protection. Beans can climb up the corn in the front of them. Lettuces, and other greens can have partial sun for some of the afternoons.  Most vegetables will do will in cooler climates, but in the southwest, everything benefits from some afternoon shade when it is so hot.  

If you mulch well, and keep the ground moist all the time, it really doesn't matter much. It is the cool roots, and the balanced soil, and a good mulch that will grow a healthy plant.  For more information on soil building and companion planting visit our website:  http://www.avant-gardening.com