Expert: Jim Kennard - 11/30/2007

Question
The only area I have in my yard is behind a 6 foot block wall that blocks the sunlight in the winter.  In the summer the sun is high enough that most of the area is sunny for a good part of the day.  I live in the Phoenix area where the mild winters make for good growing opportunity.  I was wondering if reflecting light into that area would be effective.  Since the sun is directly over the wall that the garden is below, would flat reflective panels put enough light into the garden to make it work?  Thanks.


Answer
Direct sunlight is essential for good vegetable plant growth - especially fruiting varieties - as you probably already know.

Are the flat reflective panels actual mirrors?  Can you find out the % of light that they reflect?  Unless you get close to full sunlight I would not try to grow tomatoes, peppers, etc.

However, if you can give them enough light and grow indeterminate varieties vertically, as we teach at www.growfood.com they will come up above the fence - as a matter of fact tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. will grow much higher than you can even reach.

I'll be interested to find out how much light the panels you're considering reflect.

Jim Kennard, President
Food For Everyone Foundation
www.foodforeveryone.org