Re: Tomato issues need help urgent
Since its been raining for the last two weeks, the whiteflies are gone and the leafminers are back. Really don't know what to do anymore. Poor tomatoes and eggplants.
Tomatoes are heavy feeders so what are you feeding them? Usually stressed plants will be the first targeted by pests. At this time of the year most of the pests are out in force since there is so much growth with the warmer days. The best defense for the plants are healthy plants. Harden the tomatoes off to the outdoors and get them planted before they get too big. Inspect the plants and take care of pests early but avoid sprays. Plant to attract beneficial insects. Basil goes wll with tomatoes especially if you let them bloom. Fennel in a corner somewhere will attract a host of beneficial insects to the garden. Single marigolds, dill, buckwheat, golden marguerite, cosmos, coriander in bloom, Queen Anne's Lace, rudbeckia, achillea, alyssum, false heather, as well as flowering trees and shrubs will provide food and shelter for beneficial insects. When you have a strong garden patrol, they take care of most of the pests. Any plant that is heavily infested should be culled. Weak plants don't produce well. Keeping plants fed and watered properly and not leaving them in pots too long also helps. Keep everything sanitized. Pick up the fallen leaves, make sure the plants get good air circulation. Use hand methods like washing the pests off with water, putting out ant bait to control the ants, picking off the infested leaves, and hand picking pests. If you have to spray, make sure you use the right product for the right pest and the least toxic one you can that still kills the pest. Isolate sick plants from healthy ones if you can.