A site's physical orientation determines how much solar radiation and wind it catches throughout the day and year. A southern exposure in the northern hemisphere receives maximum sunlight and warmth, making it ideal for heat-loving crops. High wind exposure can dry out soils rapidly and cause physical damage to tall plants, requiring windbreaks.
Heard on the job
We planted the stone fruit on the south slope to get maximum sun exposure and avoid frost pockets.
Insider tip
Matching a crop to a site's exposure is often more critical than soil quality, as soil can be amended but changing sunlight and wind patterns is difficult.