Tomato pests and diseases. Symptoms and Treatments

In our garden we can suffer from numerous pests and diseases in crops. Generally, good treatment and some beneficial actions can help prevent them, but once infected, the culture will show various symptoms. Today we come to talk about the different tomato pests and diseases. We will deal with the most important ones, mentioning what are the symptoms to identify that our tomato is sick or infested with insects and how to treat it.

Do you want to know how to keep your tomatoes in good condition by knowing the most important pests and diseases? Then keep reading because this is your post 

Tomato pests

We began to name and analyze the different pests by which the tomato crop can be affected.

Aphid

The aphid is one of the most common diseases in tomatoes. You have to be very careful not to damage our crops. And it is that these insects feed on the sap of the tomato and produce fungi on the leaves. This type of fungus is called bold and by covering a large part of the surface of the leaf they prevent them from performing photosynthesis well.

To prevent the appearance of aphids, you must first eliminate the weeds that attract these insects. They are able to hide among the weeds and attack our crops. We can also eliminate them by macerating nettles. We should spray the tomatoes to eliminate aphids or set certain traps to capture them as they fly. If you want to learn more about tomato pest treatment, you can visit this article on Tomato pests and their treatment.

White fly

This pest is the main cause of some of the diseases that attack our tomatoes. Like the aphids, they feed on the sap. The ideal conditions for them to proliferate are high temperatures and high humidity. It is more common to see them in the summer and spring seasons where conditions are more ideal for them.

To eliminate them and control their populations, it's best to use chromatic traps. We can also use hand-prepared infusions of wormwood and tansy. We'll use crushed garlic and dilute it in water to repel these insects. Neem oil is a product widely used in agriculture and is quite effective at eliminating this pesky pest. A very useful option is to plant plants that help keep whiteflies away from our crops. These are shield plants, and the best species for this are basil, Chinese carnations, and marigolds. If you'd like to learn more about plants that will help repel pests, check out this article. plants that attract insects that keep pests away.

Butterfly caterpillars

Butterfly caterpillars are quite harmful to our crops. They feed directly on the tomato and grow inside it. We can find large holes that make the tomatoes rot and cannot be eaten.

To eliminate these caterpillars, we must use ecological and biological insecticides. There are bacteria that can alleviate these problems and are not harmful to humans. Their use is completely natural, so we won't need pesticides or any other chemical products. If you'd like to learn more about caterpillars and red spider mites in tomato cultivation, check out this link. caterpillars and red spiders in tomato crops.

Red spider

The red spider mite is a type of mite that feeds on plant sap. To know if our tomatoes are infested with this pest, we should look at the underside of the leaves. They usually form groups and are easy to recognize. If we find a leaf with red spider mites, it's best to remove it and prevent them from infecting the rest. They usually appear due to excessive fertilizer use. We can also sprinkle sulfur on the plant. If you want to learn more about how to protect your tomatoes from red spider mites, visit this link. how to protect your tomatoes from red spider.

Trips

The easiest way to recognize that our tomatoes have thrips is by seeing the appearance of green or yellow rings. To avoid contagion, it is best to place some traps in the form of posters or bottles painted blue.

To always opt for ecological solutions, it's best to use animals that feed on these insects to eliminate them naturally. Some of these animals are wasps. Cales Noacki, Eretmocerus eremicus, Eretmocerus mundus and those of the species Encarsia Formosa. In general, it is important to know the most common pests in spring so that you can anticipate their appearance, so do not hesitate to read this article about the most common pests in spring.

Tomato diseases

Now we go on to describe the most important diseases that tomato can have.

Mildew

Mildew is one of the most common diseases that our tomato will go through. It is a fungus that generates parasites in many other vegetables. Its appearance is due to an excess of humidity and irrigation. These conditions are very favorable for them and it also occurs when it rains frequently.

To recognize that our tomatoes are infected by mildew we must see the brown spots that appear on the leaves and whose texture is similar to dust. This is how they cause the leaves to not breathe well and suffocate.

To eliminate mildew, we must focus on removing the infected parts so that it doesn't spread to the rest of the leaves and damage more of the crop. Next, we will aerate the area to reduce the humidity of the tomatoes and eliminate the perfect conditions for mildew to do its thing. Thinning the crop is a good practice to avoid areas where moisture accumulates the most and which, therefore, are more prone to damage to our crops. If the situation doesn't resolve itself, consider changing the location where you grow your tomatoes. It might help you to learn more about how to fertilize the soil for planting tomatoes, so I invite you to read this article on how to fertilize the soil to plant tomatoes.

powdery mildew

It is a fungus that is generated in good conditions of humidity and temperature. Most mushrooms need plenty of humidity and a comfortable temperature to thrive. To be able to recognize it, we have to note that it has a whitish color and usually appear in the upper part of the leaf. As they grow and time progresses, the leaf turns yellow until it finally rots.

To be able to fight it from ecologically we can use wettable or powdered sulfur. Even if you have an urban garden and can put the plants in the sun, the fungus will die. In conclusion, caring for tomatoes involves thoroughly understanding the Tomato pests and diseases, symptoms and treatments that can affect them. I invite you to continue exploring at the following link: