Troubleshooting worksheet
Sunscald
Pale, bleached, papery, or tan patches appear on leaves, stems, or exposed fruit after intense light and heat.
Look before acting
A visual match narrows questions. It does not prove a diagnosis.
Compare the location, pattern, affected plant parts, recent weather, watering, and changes in care before choosing a response.
Possible causes
Keep the list open at first.
01Sudden exposure to direct sun
02Loss of protective foliage
03Reflected heat
04High-temperature fruit injury
05Cold injury that resembles scorch
Questions to answer
Look at the whole plant and root zone.
- Was the plant recently moved outdoors?
- Did pruning expose fruit?
- Is damage on the sun-facing side?
- Did a heat event occur?
Low-risk actions
Change one thing at a time.
- Harden off new plants gradually.
- Preserve healthy protective foliage.
- Use temporary shade during exceptional exposure where practical.
- Harvest damaged fruit only if food-safety and quality remain acceptable.
Working checklist