Topic: Direction of rows?

[kitten]

Another thicko question from me - sorry  :-[

What direction should my rows be running in please?  I've yet to work out which way our plot is oriented, but as we already have our beds in place I'd like to work out which way we should be sowing/planting.  Should my rows run from north to south or east to west?

Thanks in advance, kitten x

[Blue Bird]

Hi Kitten - have been told North to South but on our lotties they go all directions

I am trying al tall North To South but my beds are East to West  ???

[Sprout]

Why don't you look at which way other plot holders have done theirs?

I would  have thought that east-west would be the way to go otherwise the northern planted ones may shade the one immediately to the south of it (does that make sense?).

[emmy1978]

I've been thinking same thing kitten. I was told north to south, but probably the best way would be to look at the best plottie on the lottie and go with their direction!
It's basically so plants don't shade each other, but I've a horrible feeling it's one of those learn as you grow gardening moments.  ::)

[saddad]

Local wind direction can be more of a problem and play havoc with things like Runner beans... look what the old timers do..
 ;D

[kitten]

Thanks guys for all your advice. 

Trouble with looking at what others are doing is that they seem to stick rows in any old how, depending on where they've got a space.  None of them follow any crop rotation at all.  Some of them have rows the whole length of the plot - approx 39m.

I think you're right emmy, we'll have to make a best guess this year and see what happens!  ::)

[keef]

Deffinatley North to South if you can.

[Pigface51]

My plot is East-West, but I am planting in rows of North-South...this is purely down to the fruit trees on the surrounding area and the areas of sunlight vs. shade (and also local wind direction).

If you have the space, why not grow something in one half of a bed N-S and the other half of the bed as E-W...