High temperatures can really complicate life for tomatoes. When tropical days strike, it is not enough just to water them regularly. Experienced growers advise a simple step that will protect the fruits from burning and help keep the plants in good condition.
Tomatoes love the sun, but too much of everything is harmful. While at the beginning of summer they literally revel in the sun’s rays, during heat waves the situation changes. If the fruits are exposed to direct sunlight for many hours a day, light spots can appear on them, which signal that they are burnt. Such tomatoes not only look worse, but also often lose part of their taste and quality.
Growing tomatoes doesn’t have to be a science full of complicated rules and precise measurements. Watch the following video and learn how to care for tomatoes simply, effectively and without unnecessary complications:
Leave the plants their natural parasol
Many gardeners are in the habit of continuously watering the plants so that the plants are better ventilated and the fruits ripen faster. However, it is advisable to proceed with caution during periods of extreme heat. It is the upper leaves that act as a natural shield that protects the tomatoes from the harsh sun.
If you didn’t save too much with the plucking of the leaves, it is worthwhile to additionally shade the plants. A light shade cloth, a piece of white non-woven fabric or other airy covering can help. It is important that air still flows around the plants and that the environment does not heat up.
Fruits on the south and west sides of the plants, where the sun burns the most, are most at risk. This is where the burn most often occurs. A simple rule is to leave enough leaves above the ripening tomatoes and not expose them to unnecessary direct sunlight.
The heat is more damaging than you think
But extreme temperatures do not only affect the fruits themselves. When the thermometer shows values exceeding thirty degrees for a long time, the plants get below . They can slow down growth, make it harder to set new flowers and even drop some of them. The result is a lower yield just at the time when we would expect its peak.
Correct watering also plays a big role. It is always better to water tomatoes abundantly to the roots and ideally early in the morning. In this way, the soil will retain moisture longer and the plant will be better able to cope with demanding afternoon temperatures. A layer of mulch can also help to limit drying out of the soil.
Small intervention, big difference
When weather forecasters report tropical days, put away your shears and think twice about leaf removal. It is this simple step that can decide whether you will harvest healthy, juicy tomatoes or fruits marked by the scorching sun. In the hot summer, it is sometimes best to let nature work as it intended.
