All Day Sunshine versus Semi Day Sunshine

6 years ago

I'm stumped with this morning sunlight issue. The photo below is taken of my corn plot.

It is a sheet mulch atop unprepared soil.

This is flint corn, tough stuff.

This case is not an isolated incident.

The corn on the left of the photo is shorter. It's all short, but because I planted densely (on purpose) and because the soil wasn't prepared.

But the corn on the left is much shorter. I have no reason to believe the soil is much different on the left side of the screen versus that on the right side of the screen but it could be.

What is striking is the shade line of the tree just out of sight of the picture on the right of the photo. You'll notice the shorter corn is not being sheltered from the morning sun and they are stunted. The corn that regularly is sheltered by the morning sun is doing well. All of this corn receives full on sun from about 9-10am until about 4-5pm.

This confuses me because I thought corn loves sun. Again, this is not an isolated incident. I have some growies elsewhere (amaranth and also cucumber vines) that are not thriving well because they are not sheltered from direct morning sun.

The common demonimator besides the direct morning sun is that they have issues with the soil. They need more organic material. That will come in time.

It will be interesting when the soil is fully mature and rich and to see if those plants can then handle the full day exposure. Cucumbers, I understand. But grain amaranth and corn being stunted by the sun?

It's the soil, right? I'm assuming that since they are struggling to put on roots that they don't have enough energy to survive the brutal all day sun?

As I write this I am reminded that the soil in my main garden (elsewhere) is very good soil and this is the really the first experience working with soil that just isn't quite ready for planting. It's a good attribute to sheet mulching though. Most of it is growing.

I think it was about 6:30 am when I took this photo.

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Comments (5)

Okiedawn OK Zone 7
6 years ago
I've never had trouble with corn or anything else that is a hot season crop (other than peppers and tomatoes) handling full sun in the summer. Part of the problem probably is the soil---corn is a very heavy feeder (just look at the outrageous amounts of nitrogen that commercial growers use to ensure a good harvest) and likely that is most of the problem. Close spacing is part of it too--the corn plant leaves need to be able to absorb a lot of sunlight, and when the corn is too crowded, the leaves don't get enough sunshine on all their leaves to produce good growth. I have no idea what role the morning shade plays in all this since none of my garden ever has been in the position to have morning shade. If your area is in drought, then the dryness is keeping the plants smaller and shorter. It could be the shade is more important in keeping the soil cooler and more moist than anything else, but that is just a guess.
chickencoupe thanked Okiedawn OK Zone 7
toxcrusadr
6 years ago
I too think it is more of a water issue. The morning sun bakes the soil driving off last night's dew and some more besides. Try watering the heck out of it.
chickencoupe thanked toxcrusadr
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AmyinOwasso/zone 6b
6 years ago
Are there any underground possibilities? I mean old drainage pipes or cables or concrete far enough below ground level that you didn't know it was there? It probably is a water issue, but the urban environment can mess you up. The contractor who built my house just put dirt over "waste" concrete in places and there is one area I have proclaimed poison because nothing lives there for long. I suspect the electric company for that, but don't know how I would find out. Good luck.
chickencoupe thanked AmyinOwasso/zone 6b
chickencoupe
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you for sharing your experiences so I can right my perspective. Gardening this time of the year and with this intensity is new. I dunno what I'm doing at this point.

There is one other common denominator between the growies struggling beneath full day sun: WIND. It is windy in these areas. And there it is. Water

So, the impact of the sun in this case is but a symptom of an underlying problem. It's probably both soil nutrients and lack of water.

My clay loam in other areas really spoiled me. I can plant aggressive flint corn this densely in my weed free clay loam and get a full stand of healthy corn, albeit less production.

For the record: There is an immature black walnut tree growing ten feet away.

That is pine needles and pine "stuff" that I used as a
mulch. Free and abundant to me. Look pretty when you first put it
down, but it doesn't retain moisture or protect as a weed barrier as
well as hay in this experience.
chickencoupe
Original Author
6 years ago
I drenched it as tox suggested and they bumped right up. Just haven't been watering enough for this area.