So, going by this, we can also conclude that tomatoes can grow in indirect sunlight. What this means is that, for as long as the tomato plants are exposed to direct sunlight for a good number of hours, the tomato plants can grow in shades or in indirect sunlight.
If growing indoors, tomato plants can grow without direct sunlight if you provide the right type of artificial light. Of course, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Too much sunlight during a dry spell will leave your tomato plants thirsty and will slow down fruit production.
This of course begs the query “Should tomatoes plants have direct sunlight?”
Tomato plants will grow best with full sun: 6 to 8 hours or more of direct sunlight per day. There is some debate about what “full sun” means, but in general, full sun means at least 6 hours per day of direct sunlight.
This is what we found. tomatoes might still produce fruit with indirect sunlight, depending on how intense it is and how long they are exposed. However, they will grow better and produce more with at least some direct sunlight.
Should tomatoes have full sun?
Tomatoes are sun-lovers and require full sun, which means that they need unobstructed, direct sunlight for 6-8 hours a day, no cheating or skipping. Many people chronically overestimate how much sun an area receives.
You could be thinking “How much sun do Tomatoes need to grow?”
One idea is that tomato plants grow best in direct sunlight – 6 to 8 hours daily is ideal for optimal fruit production. Tomato plants can still bear fruit with less sunlight, but they will not be as productive. Tomato plants can grow indoors without direct sunlight if you provide the right type of artificial light.
While we were reading we ran into the inquiry “How much sun do Tomatoes need?”.
One way to think about this is typically, tomato plants require anywhere between six to eight hours of sunlight a day, and these need to be under full sun. It’s not as simple as that though, read on to better understand sun exposure and what your tomato plants need.
One question we ran across in our research was “Are Tomatoes shade tolerant?”.
I found the answer was according to thegardeningcook. Com, some plants are shade tolerant, but tomatoes are not high up on that list! If you are worried about a lack of sunlight for your balcony or windowsill tomato plants, consider using a grow light to supplement the sunlight. Just make sure not to leave it on all night!
Even then, the fruit may not grow as large as it would with full sunlight. If your plants don’t get enough sunlight, you may find that they grow tall to reach for more sunlight, but never produce any fruit. Tomato plants that don’t get enough sun might grow tall when trying to reach for the light.
Why do tomato plants need morning sunlight?
The morning sunlight is also accompanied by less heat which is suitable for your plants allowing them to take full advantage of the conditions and produce the much-required energy. Morning sunlight also helps to evaporate the dew that accumulates on the leaves overnight and can lead to fungal infections in tomato plants.
One way to consider this is tomato plants will always grow best with plenty of direct sunlight – 6 to 8 hours per day is ideal. Tomato plants may still bear fruit with less sunlight, but they will not be as productive. If growing indoors, tomato plants can grow without direct sunlight if you provide the right type of artificial light.
Yet another question we ran across in our research was “Why is light important for tomato plants?”.
The reason that light for a tomato plant is so important is that tomato plants convert sunlight into energy. Tomato plants need energy to make their fruit. Therefore, the more sunshine they get, the more energy they have and the more fruit they can produce. Light Requirements for Tomatoes to Ripen.
How to grow tomatoes in your garden?
Your tomato garden should, therefore, offer access to afternoon sunlight which is easily achieved by removing any shade on the west facing side. This allows the tomato plants to maximize photosynthesis once more just like during the morning sun.