Australian Summer Heatwave Gardening: Protecting Plants During Extreme Heat

Understanding Heat Stress Plants experience heat stress at temperatures above approximately 35°C and severe damage above 40°C. The primary mechanisms: enzyme denaturation at high temperatures disrupts photosynthesis and cellular processes; stomatal closure to prevent water loss halts photosynthesis; pollen sterility above 32 to 35°C causes flower drop and crop failure in tomatoes, capsicum, and beans; root zone overheating in containers and raised beds can reach 50 to 60°C during heatwaves,…