When Do You Cover Tomato Plants With a Shade Cloth?

A little extra protection can help your tomato plants survive the heat.


Tomatoes tend to grow best in the heat of summer, but they are still susceptible to wilting and damage when direct sun exposure becomes too intense. Hanging a shade cloth over your tomatoes can prevent damage and keep them producing fruit during a harsh summer heat wave. You can also reuse the cloth during the winter on other crops.

High Temperatures

Even vegetable plants that enjoy warm temperatures need a little protection during a heat wave. Shade cloth should be used to cover tomatoes when temperatures rise over 85 degrees Fahrenheit, says Harvest to Table. This type of spike in heat can cause the plant to drop developing fruit and blossoms due to stress. Direct sunlight falling on the soil around the roots will also cause moisture fluctuations that lead to dropped flowers and fruits.


Many gardeners prune tomatoes so that there are fewer branches, increasing air circulation around the leaves. Extra space can prevent fungal and bacterial diseases that thrive in moist environments, says the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension. However, this can leave ripening fruit exposed to direct sunlight, which often leads to cracked or sunburned fruit during periods of high temperatures. Shade cloth can help protect plants that were heavily pruned as they set their fruits.

Too Much Shade

Unfortunately, excessive shade will also cause the tomato plant to drop its blossoms or fail to produce new flowers. The University of California Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources recommends using a lightweight shade cloth to keep plants cool without interrupting their development by blocking too much light. Shade cloths often have ratings that indicate how much light is allowed through, and North Carolina State University reports that the actual light-blocking ability of the cloth runs at about 50 percent of the rating. Angling the cloth allows you the expose the tomatoes to plenty of morning light while reducing temperatures in the afternoon.

Cold Protection

A layer of shade cloth can help you extend the growing season into the fall as well. Once the tomatoes are done for the season, extend the growth of hardy vegetables like greens and lettuce with the same cloth. Create a frame with wire hoops or PVC that prevents the cloth from weighing down the plants. Dropping a lightweight cloth over plants at night if temperatures drop toward freezing later in the year will offer a little protection, says Sunset.

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