Southern Gulfcoast Sunlight Question

Big Hutch · April 25, 2011

I live in southwest Louisiana about 80 miles from the Gulf. I know everyone says that tomatoes need full sun. I have several questions about the need for full sun in our hot humid climate.

1. I have one bed that has sun from 9 till 2-3 in the afternoon. Is that enough for good production?

2. I have two other beds that receives sun from 10:30 - 7 in the evening. Do I need to protect those plants from the intense afternoon sun?

I am planting about 10 varieties and plan on experimenting with which plants do better in each bed.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Worth1 · April 25, 2011

No matter how hot it gets you still need at the very least 6 hours of full sun.

Tomatoes grown in the shade tend to be spindly and dont produce many tomatoes.
Some varieties tend to be more tolerant than others with the shade.

You are getting 5 to 6 hours for the first ones (pushing it)and 8.5 for the other ones I would leave them alone.

Worth

April 25, 2011

I grew in Lake Charles for many years and full sun worked best for me. When I first started growing my garden, I also planted a small pecan tree which I later learned was in the wrong place. After a few years, the pecan tree grew so large it shaded my garden for most of the afternoon. My tomatoes never did like the shade and showed their displeasure by not producing as much fruit and not growing as large as they used to. I decided I preferred that bushel of pecans every year more than two bushels of tomatoes. I became accustomed to a bushel of pecans and a bushel of tomatoes.

Ted

b54red · April 26, 2011

I have the same problem but at opposite ends of the garden. I had fairly good luck with a couple of varieties that got the afternoon shade. They were BTD Pink, Gary O' Sena, and Hege German Pink. On the end with morning sun I did better with Gary O' Sena, Gregori's Altai, and Kosovo. If I had my choice I would put all my tomatoes in full sun because the plants grow healthier with thicker stems and larger fruit. I have found a couple of yellow bell peppers and one red bell pepper that seem to do very well in these shadier locations so I try to put as many of them in those spots as possible.

Big Hutch · April 26, 2011

Thanks for the advice. It is greatly appreciated.

April 25, 2011	#1
Big Hutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Oakdale, Louisiana Posts: 18	Southern Gulfcoast Sunlight Question I live in southwest Louisiana about 80 miles from the Gulf. I know everyone says that tomatoes need full sun. I have several questions about the need for full sun in our hot humid climate. 1. I have one bed that has sun from 9 till 2-3 in the afternoon. Is that enough for good production? 2. I have two other beds that receives sun from 10:30 - 7 in the evening. Do I need to protect those plants from the intense afternoon sun? I am planting about 10 varieties and plan on experimenting with which plants do better in each bed. Any advice would be appreciated.

April 25, 2011	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	No matter how hot it gets you still need at the very least 6 hours of full sun. Tomatoes grown in the shade tend to be spindly and dont produce many tomatoes. Some varieties tend to be more tolerant than others with the shade. You are getting 5 to 6 hours for the first ones (pushing it)and 8.5 for the other ones I would leave them alone. Worth

April 25, 2011	#3
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	I grew in Lake Charles for many years and full sun worked best for me. When I first started growing my garden, I also planted a small pecan tree which I later learned was in the wrong place. After a few years, the pecan tree grew so large it shaded my garden for most of the afternoon. My tomatoes never did like the shade and showed their displeasure by not producing as much fruit and not growing as large as they used to. I decided I preferred that bushel of pecans every year more than two bushels of tomatoes. I became accustomed to a bushel of pecans and a bushel of tomatoes. Ted

April 26, 2011	#4
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I have the same problem but at opposite ends of the garden. I had fairly good luck with a couple of varieties that got the afternoon shade. They were BTD Pink, Gary O' Sena, and Hege German Pink. On the end with morning sun I did better with Gary O' Sena, Gregori's Altai, and Kosovo. If I had my choice I would put all my tomatoes in full sun because the plants grow healthier with thicker stems and larger fruit. I have found a couple of yellow bell peppers and one red bell pepper that seem to do very well in these shadier locations so I try to put as many of them in those spots as possible.