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N-S or E-W for rows of beets, lettuce etc?

Ferdinand2000Ferdinand2000 Posts: 537
in Fruit & veg
I've just weeded, and will rake in some left over compost to help build up the soil, to renovate a small raised bed in my inherited garden - 7ft by 7ft, and I am planning a few radishes, lettuce, beetroot etc for early autumn.

Does it make  a difference whether I plant my rows North-South or East-West?

This is in the Midlands, and the bed gets OK light but is in only partial sun.

Cheers

Ferdinand
“Rivers know this ... we will get there in the end.”

Posts

  • Ferdinand2000Ferdinand2000 Posts: 537
    This is a short vid showing the bed I am talking about. You can see there is a lot to do on the srrounding plants and bushes.

    https://vimeo.com/448294293
    “Rivers know this ... we will get there in the end.”
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    For the crops you mention, no, it doesn't make much difference.

    It probably doesn't really make much difference unless you're growing things that need a lot of sun (tomatoes, for example). I generally grow things in north/south rows so everything gets a bit of sun and a bit of shade during the day but I doubt it makes very much difference really.

    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    Rightly or wrongly, I've always understood that any crop benefits from being planted in a North-South style so that the sun can shine up the rows as it passes, and nothing shades another crop.  At 77, I may be a slow learner.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Mine are all planted north-south because, so far, all the raised beds run east-west cos of where the veggie plot is situated.  What matters more is good soil prep appropriate to the crop then shade from buildings, taller plants and the amount of rain the plants will get if there's a rain shadow too.


    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • VegloverVeglover Posts: 13
    I have always planted NS any other way just doesn't sit right in my mind somehow

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I suppose it would matter if your bed was on a slope, then it would be better to plant across the slope to stop the water from running off so quickly.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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