The leafy crops grow in partial shade as do some of the root crops. Save the sunniest areas for crops producing fruits above ground such as tomatoes and peppers. Avoid placing the garden in a frostpocket. Cold air flows into low areas making them more susceptible to frosts. Some slope helps cold air drain off the garden but should not be so steep that erosion is a problem.
Southern exposures warm up earlier in spring.
Loams are the best soil type. Sand produces earlier crops and smoother root crops but dries out very quickly and has poor nutrient retention. Clay holds water and nutrients but has poor aeration and drainage. Poor soils are improved by the incorporation of organic matter. A poorly drained soil warms up slowly in the spring.