10 Tomato Pests That Will Destroy Your Tomato Plants
- Aphids. The most common tomato pest, but also one of the most destructive, is the aphid. These critters have soft...
- Cutworms. Cutworms are capable of destroying a tomato plant overnight. These grey or brown caterpillars with black or...
- Flea beetles. These little jumping bugs are shiny dark brown or black...
What are the most common problems with tomato plants?
20 Common Tomato Problems 1 16 Tomato Plant Diseases. Tomato diseases, garden fungi and certain environmental conditions can quickly cripple your plants. ... 2 5 Insects That Can Destroy Your Tomatoes. In addition to diseases, insects can damage tomato plants, too. ... 3 Not Just Bugs: Bird Problems. ... 4 Tell Us About Your Tomato Problems. ...
What is eating holes in my tomato plants?
If your tomato plants are more mature, the cutworms will eat holes in the tomato fruit and the leaves. If your tomato fruit has holes in the lower hanging tomatoes, you most likely have cutworms. One pest that may impact your tomatoes early in the season is cutworms 5. Potato Beetles
What are the most common pests on Tomatoes?
1. Aphids Aphids are sap-sucking insects that can become a problem not just for tomatoes but also for a range of other common garden plants and crops. These are amongst the most destructive insect pests on cultivated plants in temperate climate zones.
What is Killing my tomato plants overnight?
To prevent aphid infestations plant trap crops (like nasturtiums) to draw them away from your tomatoes, and choose plants that will attract predatory insects, such as ladybugs and hoverflies. 2. Cutworms Cutworms are capable of destroying a tomato plant overnight.
How do I protect my tomatoes from being eaten?
Bird netting helps protect tomato plants in the garden. Barriers, such as fencing, prevent animals from getting the goods. Chickenwire or plastic mesh fencing or lightweight bird netting (available at garden centers) can be installed around a pot or a row of plants.
What pest is eating my tomatoes?
Control of Insect Pests of Home-Grown TomatoesInsect PestNatural, Less Toxic InsecticidesAphidsinsecticidal soap neem oil extractTomato Fruitworms & HornwormsBacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) spinosad pyrethrin neem oil extractLeaf-footed Bugs & Stink Bugshorticultural oil5 more rows•May 24, 2021
How do I get rid of tomato pests?
0:201:17Natural Ways to Keep Bugs Off of Tomato Plants - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd they'll put some yellow paint. On it and then they'll also put some sticky petroleum oil on itMoreAnd they'll put some yellow paint. On it and then they'll also put some sticky petroleum oil on it you know we're talking not of course about the Exxon Valdez we're talking about capturing those
What can I spray on my tomato plants to keep bugs off?
What is best insect spray for tomato plants? To make an insect spray at home for tomato plans, mix 10 ounces of hydrogen peroxide, 1 gallon of water and 10 ounces of sugar together. Mix it well and spray it on and around the tomato plant and leaves.
What is taking big bites out of my tomatoes?
If you're discovering half-eaten tomatoes or ones with bite marks, you're likely dealing with squirrels or chipmunks. These critters are notorious for clambering into plants and taking a small bite out of fruits. Usually they're after the water in the tomatoes.
How do you get rid of tomato bugs naturally?
Use a DIY natural homemade solution Combine liquid dish soap and water and spray the plants and worms until covered. This should kill off the tomato hornworms without causing any type of further damage to your garden plants.
Can I spray my tomato plants with soapy water?
While many household soaps are effective when it comes to eradicating insects, they should not be used as tomato plant bug repellents because they are not meant to be used in gardens and can be just as toxic to beneficial insects as they are to pests, says the University of Florida IFAS Extension.
What do you spray on tomato plants?
To create a solution that prevents and treats disease, add a heaping tablespoon of baking soda, a teaspoon of vegetable oil, and a small amount of mild soap to a gallon of water and spray the tomato plants with this solution.
What is eating holes in my tomato leaves?
People often assume that such holes are caused by insects, but often it's a fungal problem. These holes are a leaf-spot fungus that kills small bits of the tissue which then falls out. It's doing minor damage to the plant.
Can I spray vinegar on my tomato plants?
1:062:13Is Vinegar Good for Tomato Plants? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd vinegar combine 1 cup ammonia with 2 cups of white distilled vinegar. Then added to 5 gallons ofMoreAnd vinegar combine 1 cup ammonia with 2 cups of white distilled vinegar. Then added to 5 gallons of water use a watering can to sprinkle this mixture over your tomato plants in the surrounding soil.
Can you spray dawn on tomato plants?
Dawn dish soap is one of many dish liquids that make an ideal soap solution, easily helping even novice gardeners battle against mealybugs in the tomato garden.
How do I get rid of bugs eating my plant leaves?
One of the best ways you can fight this pest off is by regularly misting the leaves to keep them moist. You should also dust and clean the leaves often to prevent these mites from laying eggs on them. For extreme cases, try a homemade bug spray made of water and neem oil for indoor plants.
What does a tomato fruitworm look like?
Tomato fruitworm adults are medium-sized moths with a wingspan of about 1 to 1.3 inch (25–35 mm). They are pale tan to medium brown colored or sometimes have a slight greenish tinge.
What is eating my tomatoes at night?
The pests that could be eating your tomato plants at night include snails and slugs, hornworms, leaf-cutting bees, cutworms, Colorado Potato Beetle, rabbits, and deer. To identify what's eating your tomato plants at night, check the marks left on them.
What is eating holes in my tomato leaves?
People often assume that such holes are caused by insects, but often it's a fungal problem. These holes are a leaf-spot fungus that kills small bits of the tissue which then falls out. It's doing minor damage to the plant.
What is eating my tomatoes from the bottom?
Insects, such as hornworms, beet army worms and stink bugs, usually eat the leaves, blossoms and fruit. You might notice small holes or ragged edges on the leaves. Damage to the fruit is usually limited to the surface, although in some cases, the insect might eat all the way through the fruit.
1. Blossom End Rot
What it looks like: The tomato plants appear healthy, but as the tomatoes ripen, an ugly black patch appears on the bottoms. The black spots on tomatoes look leathery. When you try to cut off the patch to eat the tomato, the fruit inside looks mealy. What causes it: Your plants aren’t getting enough calcium.
2. Blossom Drop
What it looks like: Flowers appear on your tomato plants, but they fall off without tomatoes developing. What causes it: Temperature fluctuations cause blossom drop. Tomatoes need night temperatures between 55 to 75 degrees F in order to retain their flowers. If the temperatures fall outside this range, blossom drop occurs.
3. Fruit Cracks
What they look like: Cracks appear on ripe tomatoes, usually in concentric circles. Sometimes insects use the cracks as an opportunity to eat the fruit, or birds attack cracked fruit. What causes them: Hot, rainy weather causes fruit crack. After a long dry spell, tomatoes are thirsty.
4. Sunscald
What it looks like: The plants look healthy, and the fruit develops normally. As tomatoes ripen, yellow patches form on the red skin.
5. Poor Fruit Set
What it looks like: You have some flowers but not many tomatoes. The tomatoes you do have on the plant are small or tasteless. What causes it: Too much nitrogen in the soil encourages plenty of green leaves but not many flowers. If there aren’t enough flowers, there won’t be enough tomatoes.
6. Catfacing
What it looks like: Catfacing makes tomatoes appear deformed. The blossom end is rippled, bumpy and lumpy. What causes it: Plants pollinated during cool evenings, when the temperatures hover around 50 to 55 degrees F, are subject to catfacing. Blossoms fall off when temperatures drop too low.
7. Leaf Roll
What it looks like: Mature tomato plants suddenly curl their leaves, especially older leaves near the bottom. Leaves roll up from the outside towards the center.
Common tomato pest symptoms
Monitor tomato plants daily. Check leaves, stems and fruit for these symptoms that come from nasty critters on the prowl. Find out more about each pest and how to control it when you click on its link.
How to treat pests on tomatoes
Here’s an overview of the most common treatment methods for tomato pests. Choose the best treatment prescribed for each one. Get more information when you click on links above for specific pests.
Do You Have a Problem From Tomato Pests?
Do you have a problem with your tomatoes from a tomato pest? Describe your plant (if possible the variety, the soil, the weather) and the its symptoms. If you've seen the pest, describe it as best you can.
How to Identify Tomato Plant Problems
Before diving into the list, it’s important for you to correctly identify the problem or tomato plant disease. When trying to identify tomato plant diseases, use these steps:
7 Common Triggers for Tomato Plant Problems
Diseases, fungi, and certain environmental conditions can quickly cripple your plants. Oftentimes, you can rescue the tomato plant with a little TLC, but some circumstances may require you to destroy it and plant another crop in its place. Here are the most common disease and fungus triggers in tomato plants:
Tomato Plant Problems and Diseases
Armed with the information above, you can easily scan this list and narrow down the possible tomato plant disease caused by poor cultivation habits, bacteria, or fungi, plus learn tips on how to fix it. If a disease isn’t the issue, then insects may be the culprit. Check out our list of common tomato pests.
Tell Us About Your Tomato Problems
Join the Safer® Brand Community on Facebook, where we want to see the pictures of your tomato and garden problems. When you upload a photo or ask us a gardening question, we'll get on the case and offer suggestions for your next steps.
