Pepper Sunscald: White Patches on Fruit
Fruit problem · common pattern reported by gardeners · verify locally
What you'll see
- Pale, papery patches on the side facing the sun
- Patches later rot or invite mold
- Worse after heavy pruning
Most common causes
- Excess sun exposure on exposed fruit
- Over-pruning removed protective leaves
- Heat waves with intense UV
How to fix it
- Leave more foliage for shade — prune lightly
- Harvest affected fruit
- Provide afternoon shade in extreme heat
Prevention: Keep 2-3 leaves above each fruit cluster Use shade cloth in hot climates Choose dense-foliage varieties
More Pepper problems
Grow Pepper with confidence
Open the Pepper growing guide → · Planting calendar · Pest & problem diagnoser
ZoneFig content reflects widely published extension-service and gardening guidance. Symptoms and causes are common patterns, not a diagnosis for any individual plant — verify locally and treat conservatively.