Sunset zone 14 puts you slightly inland in central and northern California--my neck of the woods. I run beds east and west but plant my rows north to south because the sun tracks to the south most of the year, that gives my plants in rows even sun. But if you are not planting rows in your beds (intensive or even spacing) then it would seem not to make a difference. Put your tall plants to the north side of the beds so that they do not shade lower growing crops. Your fence on the north, means your beds won't catch any shade from the fence. You could plant early or late crops along the fence to catch reflected heat and extend the season early and late.

Here is a link that might be useful: HarvestToTable.com

the ideal for me if you can do it is to run them north/south for even sun distribution across the beds so that taller plants can be planted where you like without affecting the sun to others. but we don't always get that option so anyway that fits will work just need to be aware of taller plantings.

curently have one bed running north/east-south/west, and the other runs beside a 6' high wooden fence runs along the north/eastern side, it is north/west-north/east. all across the compass lines.

len

Here is a link that might be useful: lens garden page

Thanks for the info. I am planning on doing intensive spacing - not much room for rows. Whether I run the beds north/south or east/west, the tomatoes will have to be on the north side, right? So it would be a few tomatoes at the north end of each bed, or a whole bed of tomatoes on the north side of the garden? Am I getting that right? If that is the case, I would rather have them in a separate bed just because I think I would like that look better. I am planning on growing pole beans on a trellis against the fence, which would be a few feet from where the raised beds start.

stephen albert, one more question if you don't mind since you are from the same area. I also have a fence on the east side of the garden that has about a foot of shade in front of it until noonish. Would that be a good place for peas, since I gather they like it cooler? Would that allow them to go longer into the summer? Or would the north fence be a better place for them? Or both?

Thanks so much - every time I get one question answered I seem to have 10 more! I like your website by the way - I have looked at it a few times and appreciate the info.

Yes if they are the tallest thing you grow then put them on the north end on in their own bed.

If you run the beds E to W then you would have a longer north side to plant them on rather than just an end.

For the peas, keep in mind that afternoon sun is much hotter than morning sun.

Dave

I prefer for them to run E to W. I put the trellis on the north side and the tall things like tomatoes on the west side. That way all the garden gets the morning sun but I can shade a few things from our cruel west sun with the tall plants. This also works for the winter since I can put something to act as a windbreak on the trellis without too much of a headache. That way my covered beds don't get blown around so much.

You might get different prevailing winds so take that into consideration when you locate things.

Thanks again for the ideas. I had not thought of the sun/wind break. I think I will run the beds east/west, then I will just have to play around with what I put where from year to year.

I am further North of you in the Sacramento Valley, I have my beds running E to W. I plant low growing things in the southernmost bed, taller to the north. I do try to plant some things like lettuce and spinach in the shade of the tomato plants to extend the season for them. This configuration just happens to fit my garden area better. Good luck in your garden.
Donna

Also, if you are growing any veggies that do not tolerate mid summer heat, you might consider planting them north of the tomoatoes to give them a little relief. A few examples would be lettuce and brocolli.