We've been talking about where we can grow tomatoes in containers. We have five sort-of successful tomato plants in a round raised bed, but it would be nice to be able to grow other vegetables there, assuming there's a suitable place to put big pots, for growing tomatoes elsewhere.

I said that the paved area that runs alongside the driveway in front would be perfect. It's always sunny and hot there. After all, every time I get into my car it feels like I'm sitting down in an oven.

Turns out I'm not so sure it gets the required 6 hours a day of sun. It's 8:30 now and it's still shaded (I have lots of trees around my house) by the neighbor's trees.

So I am going to do a CSI measurement. Every half hour, I'm going to check for sun exposure. Maybe I should get a piece of paper and tape and....no, that's a bit over the top, don't you think?

But I am going to look out of my kitchen window, glance at the clock, and see for sure (not in my imagination) how much direct sunlight that area gets.

Hurrah for the scientific method!