How to Protect Tomatoes and Peppers from Sunscald

You've watered consistently, tied up the vines, and waited patiently for weeks. Then one afternoon, you notice a leathery patch on the side of the fruit. A few days later, that spot turned brown and sunken. The first time it happened in my garden, I was alarmed and assumed it was a disease.

This was actually sunscald: a common problem during the hottest phase of summer, especially after long periods of intense sunshine or heatwaves. It’s also one of the easiest tomato and pepper problems to prevent once you understand what's the cause. 

What Is Sunscald?

Sunscald occurs when fruits are exposed to intense direct sunlight for long periods, especially during hot, dry weather. Instead of ripening evenly, the side facing the sun develops a pale white, yellow, or tan patch. As the damage worsens, the affected area may become dry, leathery, or even rot if bacteria or fungi enters. 

Tomatoes and peppers are particularly susceptible because they often lose some of their natural shade as plants grow, are pruned, or experience stress. The fruit is essentially getting sunburned.

What Does Sunscald Look Like?

Sunscald usually appears on the side of the fruit receiving the strongest afternoon sun. Common symptoms include:

• White, cream-colored, or light yellow patches

• Thin, papery skin

• Brown or black sunken spots later on

• Soft areas that decay

Unlike blossom end rot, which develops on the bottom of the fruit, sunscald almost always appears on the side facing the sun. Once you recognize it, it's surprisingly easy to identify.

What’s the Cause? 

Healthy tomato and pepper plants naturally protect their fruit with leaves. Problems begin when that leafy "umbrella" disappears. Common causes include extreme summer heat, heavy pruning, or heat stress in general. 

I learned this lesson after aggressively pruning my tomatoes one summer to improve airflow. Unfortunately, several beautiful tomatoes that had been shaded all season were suddenly sitting in full afternoon sun and were burnt. After this incident, I now prune much more carefully.

Don't Over-Prune 

Pruning helps improve airflow and reduce disease, but it's easy to remove too much foliage. They're not just feeding the plant through photosynthesis—they're protecting the fruit beneath them.

Instead of stripping away large numbers of leaves, remove only those that are damaged, diseased, or crowding the center of the plant. Leave enough healthy foliage to shade developing tomatoes naturally.

Keep Your Plants Watered

Heat stress makes plants more vulnerable to sunscald. When tomatoes and peppers struggle to access water, they may shed older leaves to conserve energy.

Deep watering is much more effective than frequent shallow watering. I usually water early in the morning so moisture reaches the roots before the day's heat arrives. Healthy, well-hydrated plants are much better equipped to keep their leafy canopy intact.

Mulch Helps a Great Deal 

A layer of organic mulch keeps roots cooler, reduces evaporation, and helps maintain more consistent soil moisture. Straw, shredded leaves, wood chips, or compost all work well.

In my raised beds, mulching has become almost automatic by early summer. Not only does it reduce watering, but healthier roots usually mean healthier foliage—and healthier foliage protects fruit from sunscald.

Support Your Plants 

Tomato cages, towers, and sturdy plant supports do more than keep plants upright. They help distribute branches evenly, preventing heavy fruit clusters from collapsing into direct sunlight after storms or under their own weight.

Tomato cages and plant supports allow vines to grow naturally while keeping foliage well positioned around the fruit. As branches become loaded with fruit, proper support helps prevent stems from bending or breaking, which can suddenly expose peppers to harsh afternoon sun.

Consider Temporary Shade 

When temperatures climb well above normal, even healthy plants can struggle. During particularly intense heatwaves, lightweight shade cloth can reduce afternoon sunlight without blocking the morning sun that vegetables still need.

This is especially helpful if your weather forecast predicts several consecutive days above 95°F (35°C). A little afternoon shade often prevents far more damage than trying to fix sunscald afterward.

Harvest Tomatoes at the Breaker Stage

One habit that's saved tomatoes in my garden is harvesting them before they're fully ripe. When tomatoes begin changing from green to pink or orange—a stage known as the "breaker stage"—they'll continue ripening indoors with little loss of flavor. This simple trick protects them from:

• Sunscald

• Heavy rain

• Birds

• Squirrels

This simple hack proved especially useful during August heatwaves.

A Lesson From the Garden

A few summers ago, we had an unexpected stretch of triple-digit temperatures. One tomato bed had fresh compost and mulch applied as well. Another bed had thinner mulch and fewer leaves after pruning. 

The first bed came through with only a few damaged tomatoes, while the second lost nearly a third of its ripening fruit to sunscald. This reminded me that successful gardening isn't just about reacting to problems, but getting to the root cause.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I remove sunscalded fruit?

If the fruit is still healthy aside from the damaged patch, you can leave it to finish ripening or harvest it and trim away the affected area.

Does mulch help prevent sunscald?

Indirectly, yes. Mulch keeps roots cooler and helps plants maintain healthy foliage, which naturally shades developing fruit.

Is shade cloth good for tomatoes?

During extreme heatwaves, temporary shade cloth can reduce sunscald while still allowing plants to receive enough light for healthy growth.

Can you eat tomatoes with sunscald?

Usually. If only a small area is affected, simply trim away the damaged portion. Discard fruits that have begun rotting.

Which vegetables are most likely to get sunscald?

Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and even cucumbers can develop sunscald if fruits become exposed to prolonged direct sunlight.

Parting Thoughts

Sunscald can be frustrating, especially when it affects tomatoes or peppers that were only days away from harvest. Keep plants healthy with consistent watering, compost, and sturdy supports. Avoid removing too much foliage, and remember to provide temporary shade during extreme heat.

When summer temperatures peak, a little extra care goes a long way toward keeping your tomatoes and peppers beautiful and ready for the table.