containers in sun vs shade

16 years ago

I know this might have been discussed in past, but I was noticing I had put containers in 2 different spots in my compost area where I keep extra pots etc and put my WS containers this year. The containers in the shade, where I know it is colder too, really had no sprouts, or maybe a couple tiny ones in a couple containers. The containers in the sunny part have much more bigger sprouts. One other thing, allt of the containers in the shade were milk jugs, juice jugs types, but in the sun it was mostly shallower containers like for take out roasted chicken or ice cream cartons with saran or plastic bags over them. So i am wondering do you think or have experience with sun vs shade, or maybe type of container to sprout faster?

Laurie in Mississippi

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Comments (7)

Judy Brown
16 years ago
I noticed the exact same thing. I put my winter sowing jugs in 2 different location. One that has more shade and another that has partial sun. Four of the jugs sitting in the partial sun have germinated - poppies, soapwort, eyeball plant & portulaca. I'm getting ready to move all of the jugs to the partial sun location. There are 4 other jugs in the partial sun location that haven't germinate yet. I'm thinking the partial sun does speed up the germination process because I have the exact same container of portulaca in the shade and nothing has happen. I always make sure that there is plenty of condensation going on inside the jugs so that the plants are getting moisture.
sopamanda
16 years ago
Had the same thought this morning!
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gardenluv
16 years ago
All of my jugs sit in partial sun. The only thing I have to watch for is when it gets warmer, that they don't dry out or fry.
aliska12000
16 years ago
How warm is too warm? I haven't had to deal with so many containers in half-day part sun before (not all are in that much sun). Whatever sprouts, sure don't want them to fry.

Most of the snow has melted off mine but not ground, and sidewalk should still pretty cold for awhile. Ten day forecast is high of 49 often inaccurate.

Any sun but just very early morning is new territory for me in closed containers.
topie
16 years ago
I've been wondering about the sun vs. shade thing too. Right now my milk jugs get morning sun until about 11:30am, and then they are in the shade of our garden shed for the rest of the afternoon. Is this enough sun on them?

Our temps are going to be in the 60's next week, and our yard gets pretty warm in general because it faces south and gets pretty much all day sun except for this spot where I have my jugs.
gardenluv
16 years ago
Topie, I think your jugs will be fine. There is no formula as to how much sun a jug needs and whether or not it has to be direct or not, or what the jug sits on. The jugs aren't picky! Nor are the seeds. They will sprout when they are ready.
topie
16 years ago
Thanks so much gardenluv, that is good to know! I've been looking out there at my jugs wondering about this. I'll leave them where they are then. Keeping my fingers crossed for sprouts!