Which part of a plant needs sun ?

[70smillie]

Ok I am outing myself here as knowing nothing about plants.

I have a smallish London garden and my parents used to love looking after it for me with DH doing the heavy stuff. I've lost both parents in the last couple of years and realise I have no idea how to grow anything from scratch.

So, I want to grow some climbers in tall deep narrow planters on my patio behind the outdoor sofa . There will be plenty of sun for leafy bits but the lower parts will be behind the cushions. Do I need to have the whole plant exposed to the sun ? If so I guess I can raise the planters up as they won't be visible.

I've hear some clematis will grow in containers, does anyone have experience ?

These feel like the first of many ridiculous questions.

No questions are silly!

MOSTLY it's the leaves that need sun. They're like little solar panels almost. But annoyingly there are a few plants that like to have sun on their base also.

But not clematis! The saying about then is they prefer their head in the sun and their feet/roots in the shade. So they sound perfect for you. If you do get clematis remember what variety it is, as they like to be pruned at different times. Nb you won't kill a plant(probably) by pruning it wrong, you'll just not get all the flowers you want.

Clematis sounds ideal. More than one type, so you have flowers for longer. When you plant them make sure you don’t plant them any deeper than they were in the pot, and don’t forget to feed them.

Gardeners love vicarious gardening as we’ve already filled our plots, and there are no ridiculous questions.

Thanks! That's so helpful. Is now a good time to plant or am I best waiting for a better time ?

Yes you can plant now. Water well and give some shade to the roots- I use a piece of tile.
Check out the pruning times as there are three categories!

I've hear some clematis will grow in containers, does anyone have experience ?

I've got a clematis in a pot which does quite well. I think they like quite a deep root run as well as cool, so 'deep narrow' planters sound good.

I'd get some sweet pea plants too (and grow them from seed next year, one of the easiest) as well. They're annuals but grow up fast and smell so wonderful. With those you'd probably want to have the pot in the sun till they'd got tall enough to be put behind the sofa.