What Eats My Tomato Plants

Tomatoes are one of the most beloved crops for home gardeners. However, it can be frustrating when something starts eating your tomato plants. Several pests and diseases can damage your tomatoes, and knowing what they are and how to handle them can significantly increase your yield. Here is a summary of the most common culprits that might be eating your tomato plants.

Aphids

If you notice distorted leaves, curled plant tips or yellowing, it could be a sign of an aphid infestation. These small, pear-shaped insects are drawn to tomato plants, where they feed by piercing the stem and sucking the juices. A few aphids do not pose a significant risk to your plants, but a larger population can cause widespread damage.

Aphids can be controlled by spraying your plants with a strong jet of water or with insecticidal soap. Beneficial insects such as ladybugs and lacewings are also natural predators of aphids and can be introduced to your garden to help control their population.

Tomato Hornworms

The tomato hornworm is the most destructive pest of tomato plants. These large, green caterpillars can strip an entire plant of its leaves in only a few days. In addition to consuming foliage, they also bore into the fruits and destroy them.

Handpicking the hornworm can be an effective way to manage it, but you can also use Bacillus thuringiensis (BT), a natural bacterial insecticide, to control their population. You can apply BT to your plants every five to seven days during the growing season to prevent hornworms from emerging.

Blights and Wilts

Tomato plants are susceptible to several diseases that can cause the leaves to wilt and yellow. One of the most common tomato plant diseases is early blight, which causes dark spots to appear on the leaves and eventually spreads to the stems and fruits. Late blight is another disease that can quickly devastate your tomato plants.

Preventive measures are crucial in controlling tomato blight and wilt. Choose resistant tomato varieties, rotate your crops, space your tomato plants adequately, water the plants at their base, and keep the garden clean and free of debris.

Conclusion

Tomato plants are vulnerable to several pests and diseases, and early identification and management of these problems can help prevent the loss of fruit and total devastation of your crop. By following proper plant hygiene, crop rotation, and using the appropriate treatments, you can protect your tomato plants and enjoy a plentiful harvest throughout the season.