Get the most from your tomato plants by fine tuning sun exposure.
Getty Images / TraceyAPhotos
Tomatoes love sunshine.
They thrive in soil warmed by the summer sun and feed on the energy of the suns rays.
Credit:Getty Images / TraceyAPhotos
But how much sun do tomatoes really need?
Young plants focus their energy on establishing a healthy root system and developing strong stems and leaves.
Sunlight also powers flower and fruit development.
When too little light reaches plants, they produce fewer flowers and subsequent fruits.
Although tomato plants love warm temperatures, flowers and ripening fruits can be sensitive to very high heat.
When temperatures soar, tomatoes often drop their flowers and established fruits may fail to ripen.
These challenges can be managed through plant selection, planting location, and shading, as discussed below.
How Much Light Do Tomatoes Need?
Tomatoes need 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight for the best production.
Direct sunlight is unfiltered and unobstructed by trees, buildings, shade sails, or other structures.
This can lead to production problems, particularly in very hot southern climates.
Get to know your site by observing sun exposure and associated temperatures regularly.
Morning Vs.
Morning sun helps manage foliar diseases in tomato plants by drying dew from the leaves.
It is also less harsh than mid- to late-afternoon sunshine, which can be blistering.
In these locations, provide filtered sun or light shade during the hottest parts of the day.
Can Tomatoes Receive Too Much Sun?
Blossom drop and poor ripening typically occur when daytime temperatures hit 85F to 90F and nights remain above 75F.
Shading can reduce temperatures in the plant canopy and help to reduce these problems.
It appears as white or pale patches on fruits due to overexposure to direct sunlight.
Healthy plants generally provide amply shade through leaf cover to protect developing fruits from intense sun exposure.
Cloths yielding 20-40% shade are ideal for tomatoes.
