Tomatoes are a hot topic of conversation among gardeners worldwide. The harvest is yet to come but, if we want it to be good, we must ensure the best possible conditions!
Even though many factors affect how tomatoes grow, the crucial one is light! Giving your tomatoes the right amount of sunlight can make all the difference between a bountiful harvest and a patch of withered, lackluster plants.
Bearing this info in mind, there’s one question we need to answer: How much sun do tomatoes exactly need?
Let’s uncover the sun-soaked secret to the healthiest and juiciest tomatoes you could ever imagine!
Full Sun And Tomatoes Are A Match Made in Heaven
Once you put your tomatoes in the ground, the sun will take care of the root growth and further development of the green parts of the plant. Simple biology!
If you don’t ensure enough light at this point, you’ll most likely end up with leggy plants, and your harvest will be anything but good (don’t ask how I know).
Your main goal is to ensure full sun! Sun exposure in gardening confuses many beginners, and I can understand why. You see, full sun refers to exposure to unobstructed and unfiltered sunlight for at least 6 hours.
So, if you want your tomatoes to be healthy and happy and produce many fruits, you need to provide them with a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Seems simple, right? Well, that’s not where the story ends. It’s not the same if your tomatoes receive direct sun in the morning and in the afternoon. This is especially important for those who live in hot and dry climates.
Know The Difference Between Morning And Afternoon Sun!
Your tomatoes must spend time in both morning and afternoon sun to develop healthily. However, you should aim for early afternoon sun.
This way, you’ll avoid harsh sun rays that could cause sunscald in your tomatoes. I live in Southern California and I have to keep my tomatoes in a spot that receives partial shade in mid and late afternoon.
My fellow gardeners from the Deep South and Southwest should also do the same if they want to avoid any unnecessary problems.
Is There Such A Thing As Too Much Sun For Tomatoes?
YES! Tomatoes can be severely affected by harsh sun rays and overexposure to sunlight. The blazing afternoon sun can spell trouble for your tomatoes and lead to notorious sunscald.
If you’ve never heard of sunscald, it refers to pale patches on the tomato fruits caused by direct light.
But fear not! Providing some shade can cool things down in the plant canopy and nip these issues in the bud.
If you don’t have any trees in your garden or anything similar, you can use a shade cloth. I always use cloths that yield around 40% of shade and my tomatoes enjoy it!
Ready to have the best tomato harvest so far? Let your tomatoes get sun-kissed, guaranteeing a garden spectacle that’s second to none!