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Tomatoes love andneed a lot of sunlightand heat to grow.
But too much of a good thing can cause the plant to get sunscaldthe plant equivalent of a sunburn.
What is Sunscald?
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Tomatoes need plenty of sunlight to produce fruit, typically around six to eight hours a day.
Too much sun and heat can cause tomatoes to get sunscald.
If youre experiencing a heat wave or increased temperatures, theres usually no need to worry.
A few days of higher-than-normal temperatures usually dont cause sunscald, says McDonald.
What Sunscald Looks Like
Sunscald can affect the leaves as well as the fruit.
Fruit that is exposed due to over-pruning can also be more prone to sunscald.
When the leaves are gone, so is the umbrella effect.
As a guide, you want to plant after the last freeze in spring.
Once the extreme heat is upon us, tomato growth all but stops completely.
She says thats when its time to harvest or remove the plants.
He recommends two tomato plants: Red Snapper and Hossinator are two varieties that thrive and have minimal sunscald.
Oftentimes, bigger-sized tomatoes are more susceptible to sunscald.
If yourUSDA Zonehas very hot summers, you may want to grow smaller-sized tomatoes.
How to Prevent Sunscald
Sunscald can be prevented.
Here are two ways to reduce the chances of sunscald.
There are a number of options when choosing shade cloth, with percentages ranging from 30-75% shade coverage.
When in a pinch, an umbrella can provide shade to growing plants.
Dont Over-prune
Pruning helps promote fruit growth.
But overdoing it can cause your tomato plants harm.
She says that even sunburned leaves can provide protection to delicate fruit.
Even crispy leaves are fine to leave on a tomato plant if fungal diseases arent present, she adds.
Can You Eat Them?
Typically, it’s possible for you to eat a sunscalded tomato if there isnt any mold.
Sometimes a tomato just has a yellow or white blemish.
Cut around it and enjoy the rest of that juicy tomato!
But there are some signs when you shouldnt eat a sunscald tomato.
