I am wondering where in my back yard would be the best place for a vegetable garden. The yard is surrounded by a 6 foot cedar fence. My boyfriend says the garden should be in the SE corner of the yard (along the fence) but I disagree, as it will then be shaded by the fence on the east and the south side. I think the best spot would be in the NE corner of the yard where it seems it would get the most sun exposure. Part of the reason this is important is that I am about to install a 12x8 shed in my yard and it will go in the opposite corner of the garden. Any advice would be much appreciated.
The best place to site your vegetable garden would be where it gets the most sun and has the best soil. A southern exposure is ideal, especially if the ground slopes away from the garden so the heavier cold air flows away from it. That gives the garden it's longest season with best light and soil. All vegetables need a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight. Sun-loving plants like tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, as well as green beans, squash and melons need more. Lettuces and some members of the cabbage family can do with a little less.
This article, Growing Your Own has additional information on growing all kinds of vegetables specifically in our climate
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