local
Who says a vegetable garden needs full sun? Some plants do well in shadier spots
By Associated Press at Odessa American (oaoa.com)
· July 12, 2026
· 3 min read
By JESSICA DAMIANO
The Associated Press
Conventional wisdom says vegetable gardens need full sun, but a productive garden doesn’t always require the recommended six to eight hours of direct sunlight.
If fences, trees or your house cast shade on your soil, growing vegetables won’t be out of reach...
Key takeaway To be clear, by “hours of sunlight,” I’m referring to the length of time the sun reaches the soil each day as it moves across the sky, unobstructed by buildings and other structures that cast shadows.
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About this story
Original reporting by Odessa American (oaoa.com) . The Odessa surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: local ·
Published: July 12, 2026 ·
Source: Odessa American (oaoa.com) ·
Reading time: 3 min
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What is this story about? By JESSICA DAMIANO
The Associated Press
Conventional wisdom says vegetable gardens need full sun, but a productive garden doesn’t always require the recommended six to eight hours of direct sunlight.
If fences, trees or your house cast shade on your soil, growing vegetables won’t be out of reach...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 12, 2026 by Odessa American (oaoa.com) and curated for The Odessa readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Associated Press at Odessa American (oaoa.com). To learn more about how The Odessa selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Odessa, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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