Deanna Talerico, an organic gardening expert and founder of Homestead and Chill, has said you can protect your tomato plants using items you’ve already got at home.
“There are a number of ways to create shade in the garden,” she said. “By draping bed sheets or specialised shade cloth over hoops, stakes, or other supports, using large patio or beach umbrellas, or even erecting large shade canopies over an entire garden area rather than individual beds or plants.”
Using bedsheets is one of the simplest methods to safeguard tomatoes from sunscald. They’re crafted from lightweight material that softens harsh sunlight without completely obscuring it.
Opting for breathable fabric to shade plants is crucial, as heavier plastics can trap heat and exacerbate plant stress. And, with parts of the UK expected to see temperatures soar above 30 degrees this week, it’s wise to make sure you’ve got what you need now.
As well as needing protection when temperatures soar, tomatoes should also be shielded if their leaves begin to wilt even though they’ve been watered, or if the fruit develops light, spotty patches. Deanna said: “By reducing the intensity of the sunlight and heat beating down on plants, the soil stays cooler, retains moisture, and generally reduces the impact of excessive heat.”
Fasten potted tomato plants using clothes pegs, hair clips or garden ties to make sure the sheet doesn’t make contact with the plant to avoid smothering or damaging the tomatoes. If possible, use a white or light-coloured sheet to reflect sunlight, as dark colours may absorb more heat.
Put the sheet up before midday to shield plants from the sun at its peak, and remove it in the early evening to allow for some essential sunlight exposure, vital for tomato growth, to get through.
And sunscald isn’t just a risk for tomatoes – cucumbers and peppers are susceptible too, so make sure they’re shaded too if you’ve got them in your garden.
This method is not only cost-effective and environmentally friendly. But remember to keep watering tomatoes deeply, and mulch them to ensure they remain protected throughout the summer.
