Tomatoes normally thrive in hot weather, but the unusually sunny weather the UK has been experiencing at this time of year could damage these young crops and cause sunscald. If tomatoes are not protected, then the strong sun can break them down and cause them to begin to lose a lot of moisture quickly.
This can weaken the plant, making it more susceptible to garden diseases like blight. It can also cause the fruit to become dry and leathery, increasing the risk of it rotting on the vine. Luckily, Deanna Talerico, an organic gardener and founder of Homestead and Chill, has shared a simple way to keep your garden safe: shade overheated plants using items you already have at home.
Deanna said: “There are a number of ways to create shade in the garden: by draping bed sheets or specialized 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.”
Bedsheets are one of the easiest ways to protect tomatoes and prevent sunscald. They are made of light fabric that diffuses strong sunlight without completely blocking it out.
It is better to shade plants with breathable fabric, as using heavier plastic will also overheat the plant and continue to cause it stress.
Certain areas of the UK are believed to experience temperatures over 30C later in June, so it is better to prepare for a heatwave now using items you already have lying around your house.
You will know tomatoes need to be put in the shade when temperatures suddenly spike, but they also need to be protected if their leaves begin wilting despite being watered, or the fruit has light, spotty patches.
Deanna added: “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.”
How to protect tomatoes and other garden crops using bedsheets
Once the temperature reaches above 29C in the UK, then drape a bedsheet over a tomato stake or cage to create a tent-like structure.
If you are growing tomato plants in pots, secure them with clothes pegs, hair clips, or garden ties. Make sure the bedsheet does not touch the plant, as you do not want to smother the tomatoes or crush them.
It is also better to use a white or light-coloured bedsheet if you can, as they will reflect sunlight, while darker colours can trap more heat.
Put the bedsheet up before noon, when the sun is at its strongest, and remove it in the early evening once the intense heat has passed, since tomatoes still need sunlight to grow well.
Sunscald is usually easily spotted on tomatoes, but cucumbers and peppers can also catch it, so make sure to keep them shaded if you have any growing in your garden.
This is a cheap and eco-friendly way to protect crops from intense temperatures, but also make sure to deeply water tomatoes and mulch them to keep them protected throughout summer.