How to Kill Whiteflies & Other Pests on Tomato Plants

Planting tomatoes in the spring and watching them grow until the juicy red fruits are ready for harvest and consumption is one of the simple pleasures that makes gardening so popular. However, experienced gardeners are all too aware that pests such as whiteflies, aphids and caterpillars can ruin the fun by seriously damaging the crop. Defeating pests starts with good cultivation practices, since healthy plants are more resistant to infestation. Plant your tomatoes in a sunny spot in well-turned soil mixed one to one with compost. Make sure there’s enough space between each tomato plant, at least 36 inches, and never let the plants dry out.

Pruners
Insecticide spray

Instructions

- 1
  Prune off foliage with signs of whiteflies or other pest infestations. You can remove up to half the leaves on a growing tomato plant without damage. Do not remove growing tips or budding blossoms.
- 2
  Spray the plant with an insecticide. Various types are available from garden stores. Check the label to ensure that the spray will kill whitelies, aphids and other common tomato pests. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- 3
  Encourage natural insect predators in your garden such as ladybugs, spiders and parasitic wasps. The best way to do this is to leave corners of your garden untended so that a natural population will occur. Plant your tomatoes away from untended patches, which are likely to favor pests as well as beneficial predators.
- 4
  Pick off caterpillars such as tomato hornworm and kill them.
- 5
  Remove weeds from around the tomato plants whenever they appear. Weeds can encourage stink bugs, sometimes known as shield bugs. These insects feed on the leaves and the fruit.

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