Probably, there are no gardeners who have never encountered pests in their area. And it is very unpleasant, having put so much effort to grow seedlings and care for them, to lose the entire crop due to insects. Fortunately, today there are many effective pest control methods.
Tomato seedlings can be affected by various pests. All of them are divided into two groups: root and elevated. The first insects live in the soil and have a detrimental effect on the root system of plants, others damage the leaves and stems. If you start acting immediately, seeing the first signs of plant damage, then there is a high chance of defeating the enemy. And vice versa, if pest control is delayed, then there will be nothing to save. In this article, we will consider what pests of tomatoes exist, how to protect plants, and how to treat tomato seedlings from pests.
Colorado beetle
This pest is known to all gardeners without exception. Potatoes have to be saved from it every year. But recently, the Colorado potato beetle does not disdain tomatoes. Perhaps the reason is that both potatoes and tomatoes belong to the nightshade family.
This pest has a variegated striped coloration, 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 sheets. A large number of larvae are formed from them, which ruthlessly eat young leaves of plants. They can very quickly destroy tomato seedlings, so you need to start the fight immediately.
The easiest and most effective way to control these pests is to collect insects and eggs by hand. Tomatoes usually infect fewer beetles than potatoes, so if you start picking as soon as the pests appear on the plants, it won’t take long. It 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 strongly on 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 the potato is a favorite delicacy of the Colorado potato beetles, it will crawl onto it, and it will be much easier to collect insects. You can also spray tomato seedlings with a special infusion, which is prepared from wood ash.
Vigorous shaking can damage or break the stem of the tomato.
whitefly
This is a flying insect that damages the plant by sticking to the leaves of a tomato, and absorbs the juice from them. The whitefly is one of the most dangerous tomato pests. It is able to infect many types of tomatoes (about two hundred varieties). Even the most resistant varieties can be affected by this pest.
The whitefly lays its eggs on the leaves of tomatoes. The larvae that appear immediately begin to destroy the plants. Due to the loss of juice, the seedlings gradually begin to wither and dry. The reason for such disastrous consequences is in the sooty fungus, the carrier of which is the whitefly. The fungus spreads along the leaves of the plant, and covers them with a black coating.
If you notice a black or silver coating on the sheets of your tomatoes, then you need to start pest control. The sooner you start processing plants, the more effective it will be. Getting rid of the whitefly can be a long process, but it is still possible to save the tomato crop.
An excellent method of dealing with whitefly is the drug “Confidor”. Use according to the instructions on the package. From folk methods, spraying tomato bushes with infusions of garlic or cinnamon is suitable. 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 bear has well-developed forelimbs, which are very convenient to rake the ground. The body of the bear is brown or brown. The insect grows up to ten centimeters in length. Medvedka larvae are no less dangerous for tomato seedlings. They, like adult insects, feed on the roots of plants.
Medvedka digs passages in the ground in order to move freely around the garden. She gnaws the roots of tomatoes, and can also completely gnaw through the base of the stem, because of which the tomato seedlings wither and die before our eyes.
To combat this pest, granular preparations are used that act directly on insects without harming plants. Such preparations must be buried in the soil or poured into the mink of a bear. The following funds are suitable: Medvetoks, Rembek, Thunder and Grizzly. On the shelves of stores you can find many similar drugs.
Often, a solution of table vinegar is used to combat the bear. To prepare it, you need to mix:
- half a liter of 9% vinegar;
- ten liters of water.
The solution must be poured into the minks. Medvedka does not tolerate such pungent odors, so this method will help drive the insect out of your garden for a long time. You can scare away the bear and other folk methods. For example, with the help of onions or onion peels, spoiled meat, garlic. So that others do not feel this smell, it is better to bury the product in the soil. To make sure that the bear will definitely not miss your repellent, you can make a bait. As a trap, you can use rotted manure, and as a bait – beer or sunflower oil.
spider mite
It is one of the most dangerous pests of tomatoes. It can destroy the entire crop if you do not start fighting it in time. Infection with spider mites occurs most often from the soil. Perhaps it is already infested with mites, or there were infected plant remains in it. It is very dangerous to plant plants or flowers brought from the field next to tomatoes.
Detecting the presence of a spider mite is very easy. When examining plants, you can notice the web, as well as white and yellow dots on the sheets. They appear due to punctures that ticks make, feeding on the juice of the leaves. The web can eventually cover the entire plant, but this should not be expected, but it is better to immediately start fighting the pest.
Well exterminates the spider mite drug “Karbofos”. It is diluted with water and used for spraying tomatoes. Fans of folk methods can use ordinary alcohol to fight spider mites. They are sprayed with all the leaves on the tomato bushes. The procedure must be repeated after a week. Such a tool is very affordable and will not harm tomato seedlings. You can also use an infusion of garlic, dandelions or onions to spray plants.
aphid
This small insect infects many plants, including tomatoes. It attacks 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 highest probability of aphids infestation falls on the month of June, then its number becomes as large as possible.
The first alarm signal when aphids appear is the twisting and deformation of the leaves. If this happens, you need to carefully examine the tomatoes for the presence of these small insects. It usually affects the upper parts of plants, so it is not difficult to notice it.
To combat aphids, you can use both chemicals and folk remedies, which are safer. The following insecticides are well suited: Ratibor, Confidor, Proteus. These preparations should be carefully processed bushes.
An effective method would be to flush 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 an herbal decoction to combat aphids, you will need:
- 1 liter of grass.
- 2 liters of boiling water.
- 40 grams of laundry soap.
Grass should be poured with boiling water and boiled for fifteen minutes. Strain the broth and add grated laundry soap, mix. Further, the broth must be diluted with water, 1 liters of water will be needed for 10 liter of solution. Spray the tomato bushes with this mixture.
Conclusion
As we have seen, it is possible and necessary to deal with pests of tomato seedlings. Although it is quite painstaking work, but it is worth it. As a result, we will save our crop, and the plants will remain healthy and strong. The main thing in this matter is not to hesitate, because insects multiply very quickly, and can destroy seedlings in a short time. But, by listening to the advice from this article, you will undoubtedly win in the fight against pests.
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