Knowledgebase

Heat wave #875951

Asked July 04, 2024, 5:59 PM EDT

Good Afternoon! Wondering if there are any precautions I should take in protecting garden that is in direct sun 85% of the day? Mainly tomatoes, cucumbers, melons.

Lane County Oregon

Expert Response

Tomatoes and peppers need at least 6-8 hours of direct sun per day, so should be able to handle the light, it is the high temperature that is of more concern. Too much heat and sun can lead to sunscald on the fruit and leaves. If that is the case, you can use shade cloth to protect the plants. Shade cloth is sold at most garden stores, and can reduce temperatures by as much as 10 degrees underneath the cloth. Do not lay the shade cloth directly on the plants so that they have some air circulation, instead place them over hoops or frames. I have seen some farms that use them as vertical fence-like structures (stapled to stakes that are driven into the ground) in the aisles between their crop. For more tips on identifying and preventing heat stress in plants, refer to the following: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/flowers-shrubs-trees/heat-wave-garden-how-identify-prevent-heat-stress-plants.

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