There are probably no gardeners who have never encountered pests on their site. And it is very unpleasant, having made so much effort to grow seedlings and care for them, to lose the entire harvest due to insects. Fortunately, there are many effective pest control methods available today.
Tomato seedlings can be affected by various pests. All of them are divided into two groups: root and aboveground. The first insects live in the soil and have a detrimental effect on the root system of plants, while others damage leaves and stems. If you start acting immediately upon seeing the first signs of plant damage, then there is a high chance of defeating the enemy. And vice versa, if you delay pest control, there will be nothing left to save. Let us consider in this article what exist tomato pests, how to protect plants, and how to treat tomato seedlings from pests.
Colorado beetle
This pest is known to all gardeners without exception. Every year we have to save potatoes from it. But lately the Colorado potato beetle has not disdained tomatoes. Perhaps the reason is that both potatoes and tomatoes belong to the nightshade family.
This pest has a variegated striped color and is very visible on green leaves. But the main threat - eggs - is more difficult to find on plants.The insect deposits them on the underside of the leaves. They form a large number of larvae that mercilessly eat young plant leaves. They can very quickly destroy tomato seedlings, so you need to start fighting immediately.
The easiest and most effective way to combat these pests is to collect insects and eggs by hand. Tomatoes are usually affected by fewer bugs than potatoes, so if you start harvesting as soon as the pests appear on the plants, it won't take much time. This will also protect tomato seedlings from exposure to chemicals that are used to combat the Colorado potato beetle. But if the volume of work is large, and the larvae have multiplied greatly on the plants, then you will have to use special preparations. Many people prefer Aktara, Prestige, Mospilan.
For those who prefer folk remedies for pest control, there are also several options. For example, you can spread potato skins over a bed of tomatoes. Since potatoes are the favorite delicacy of Colorado beetles, they will crawl onto it, and it will be much easier to collect insects. You can also spray tomato seedlings with a special infusion made from wood ash.
Vigorous shaking may damage or break the tomato stem.
Whitefly
This is a flying insect that damages the plant by sticking to tomato leaves and absorbing juice from them. Whitefly is one of the most dangerous pests of tomatoes.It is capable of infecting many types of tomatoes (about two hundred varieties). Even the most resistant varieties can suffer from this pest.
Whiteflies lay eggs on tomato leaves. The emerging larvae immediately begin to destroy the plants. Due to the loss of juice, the seedlings gradually begin to wither and dry out. The reason for such disastrous consequences is the sooty fungus, which is carried by the whitefly. The fungus spreads over the leaves of the plant and covers them with a black coating.
If you notice a black or silver coating on the leaves of your tomatoes, then you need to start fighting the pest. The sooner you start treating plants, the more effective it will be. Getting rid of whiteflies can be a long process, but you can still save your tomato crop.
An excellent method of combating whiteflies is the drug “Confidor”. Use according to the instructions on the package. Traditional methods include spraying tomato bushes with infusions of garlic or cinnamon. Insects do not like strong odors and may leave your beds after treatment.
Medvedka
This insect is a relative of the locust. Therefore, it is not surprising why it is so voracious. The mole cricket has well-developed forelimbs, which are very convenient for raking the soil. The body of the mole cricket is brown or brown in color. The insect grows up to ten centimeters in length. Mole cricket larvae are no less dangerous for tomato seedlings. They, like adult insects, feed on plant roots.
The mole cricket digs passages in the ground in order to move freely around the garden bed. It gnaws the roots of tomatoes, and can also completely gnaw the base of the stem, which is why tomato seedlings wither and die before our eyes.
To combat this pest, granular preparations are used that act directly on insects without causing harm to plants. Such preparations must be buried in the soil or poured into mole cricket burrows. The following products are suitable: “Medvetox”, “Rembek”, “Thunder” and “Grizzly”. You can find many similar drugs on store shelves.
A solution of table vinegar is often used to combat mole crickets. To prepare it you need to mix:
- half a liter of 9% vinegar;
- ten liters of water.
The solution must be poured into the burrows. The mole cricket does not tolerate such strong odors, so this method will help drive the insect out of your garden for a long time. You can scare away mole crickets using other folk methods. For example, using onions or onion peels, spoiled meat, garlic. To prevent others from smelling this smell, it is better to bury the product in the soil. To be sure that the mole cricket will definitely not miss your repellent, you can make bait. You can use rotted manure as a trap, and beer or sunflower oil as bait.
Spider mite
It is one of the most dangerous pests of tomatoes. It can destroy the entire crop if the fight against it is not started in time. Infection with spider mites most often occurs from the soil. It may already be infested with mites, or there may be contaminated plant debris in it. It is very dangerous to plant plants or flowers brought from the field next to tomatoes.
It is very easy to detect the presence of spider mites. When examining the plants, you may notice cobwebs, as well as white and yellow spots on the leaves. They appear due to punctures made by mites while feeding on the sap of the leaves. Over time, the web may cover the entire plant, but you should not wait for this, but it is better to immediately begin fighting the pest.
The drug “Karbofos” exterminates spider mites well. It is diluted with water and used to spray tomatoes. Fans of traditional methods can use regular alcohol to combat spider mites. All leaves on tomato bushes are sprayed with it. The procedure must be repeated after a week. This product is very affordable and will not harm tomato seedlings. You can also use infusion of garlic, dandelions or onions to spray plants.
Aphid
This small insect attacks many plants, including tomatoes. It affects the leaves and stems of plants. There are more than one thousand species of aphids. All of them feed on plant sap, and at the same time infect them with various viral diseases. Aphids reproduce very quickly. The greatest probability of aphid infestation occurs in June, when its number becomes as large as possible.
The first warning sign when aphids appear is the curling and deformation of leaves. If this happens, you need to carefully inspect the tomatoes for the presence of these small insects. It usually affects the upper parts of plants, so it is not difficult to notice.
To combat aphids, you can use both chemicals and folk remedies, which are safer. The following insecticides are well suited: “Ratibor”, “Confidor”, “Proteus”.These drugs should be used to thoroughly treat the bushes.
An effective method is to wash away insects from tomato seedlings with water from a hose. You can also use various infusions and decoctions to treat plants. For this, ordinary grass, tobacco and ash are suitable.
To prepare a herbal decoction to combat aphids, you will need:
- 1 liter of herb.
- 2 liters of boiling water.
- 40 grams of laundry soap.
The herb should be poured with boiling water and cooked for fifteen minutes. Strain the broth and add grated laundry soap, stir. Next, the broth must be diluted with water; 1 liter of solution will require 10 liters of water. Spray the tomato bushes with this mixture.
Conclusion
As we have seen, it is possible and necessary to combat pests of tomato seedlings. Although this is quite painstaking work, it is worth it. As a result, we will save our harvest, and the plants will remain as healthy and strong. The main thing in this matter is not to hesitate, because insects reproduce very quickly and can destroy seedlings in a short time. But by following the advice in this article, you will undoubtedly win the fight against pests.
Reviews
Someone is nibbling and sucking around the seedlings of tomatoes and peppers at a depth of 1 cm from the surface of the earth. The seedlings are in cups on the window, I poured the earth out of the glass, looked through it, and did not find either a mole cricket or a scoop. I poured boiling water with Morgantsovum on the earth.