Plant guide:ð Pumpkin
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Sunscald on Pumpkin Fruit
Commonly affects: Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, C. moschata (Pumpkin)
A pale, bleached, or leathery patch develops on the side of the fruit facing direct sun, especially after sudden loss of shading foliage from disease, pruning, or wind damage.
Potential Causes
- 1Sudden exposure to intense direct sun after foliage loss from powdery mildew or other disease
- 2Over-pruning of leaves near developing fruit
- 3A heatwave following a period of cooler, cloudier weather with no acclimation time
Solution Steps
- 1Address any foliar disease causing leaf loss promptly, since that's the most common underlying cause.
- 2Avoid unnecessary pruning of leaves shading developing fruit.
- 3Provide temporary shade cloth over exposed fruit during extreme heat events.
- 4Harvest or use affected fruit promptly if the scald is severe, since the area is prone to secondary rot.
Prevention Tip
Keep foliage healthy through the season â sunscald on pumpkin is almost always secondary to disease-related leaf loss rather than an isolated weather problem.
