Request help with three problems...

huntsman · December 12, 2009

Checking on my toms recently I found the following three problems on three different plants.

Could you help me with what I am facing, the severity and any solution, perhaps?

Cheers!

**mdvpc** · December 12, 2009

I dont know what the first two are, but the third is the trail from leafhoppers. The second photo could well be evidence of some pest that is chewing on the leaf.

photos: http://images.google.com/images?rlz=...ed=0CBUQsAQwAA

http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/~dietrich/lfhFAQ.html

TZ-OH6 · December 12, 2009

The damage is consistent with

1) Spider mites/ false spider mites (low humidity helps their populations, ...can be a big problem growing undoors)
2) Snails/slugs, baby caterpillars, other unknown
3) Leaf miners

These are problems that tomatoes can generally outgrow (unless it is baby caterpillars)

Blueaussi · December 12, 2009

What TZ-OH6 sez!

1. Spider mites are one of those things that are easy to control, but difficult to fully annihilate. They thrive in dry weather, so one of the easiest things to do is direct a stream of water under the leaves a couple of times a week. Most any common pesticide or soap will kill them, too.

2. Put a board on the ground under your plants over night. Turn it over in the morning and see if there are a lot of slugs.

3. Pick off damaged leaves and destroy to kill the adults or put out yellow sticky traps to catch them.

Marko · December 12, 2009

Huntsman, good photos!
1. Spidermites are easily controlled with Floramite SC, I have no more problems with them since I'm using it.
2. Caterpillars can be a real problem. Check your plants thoroughly, they are usually the same color as leaves and hard to find.
3. Leaf miners are not a problem for tomato, but anyway destroy affected leaves.

huntsman · December 13, 2009

Thanks, fellas!

I'm going totally organic, Marko, so cannot go the Floramite route, but thanks for the suggestion.

These plants picked up all three conditions when outdoors, BTW...not in the greenhouse. (Well, brownhouse in my case!)

mdvpc - those page show no way to control leafhoppers, but perhaps a mild soap solution as suggested by Blue?

TZ and Blue - strange, dat! We've had loads of rain recently and our weather is anything but dry at the mo', but I'll zap under the leaves as suggested, and remove some damaged leaves. Please note that I cannot remove the leaves from the first plant as every one is affected...

**mdvpc** · December 13, 2009

Hunt-Mild soap is good, pyrethrin is good also and organic. There are some predators that will help like lizards. Damselflies are natural enemies of leafhoppers.

dice · December 13, 2009

Some organic approaches to mite control:
http://www.ghorganics.com/page9.html#Mites:

I seem to recall reading that a 1:1 mixture of rubbing alcohol
and water sprayed on them will kill spider mites, too.

huntsman · December 13, 2009

Much appreciated, mdv and dice -

Can't wait for them 'maters!

**mdvpc** · December 13, 2009

hunt-happy to help.

December 12, 2009	#1
huntsman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa - GrowZone 9 Posts: 595	Request help with three problems... Checking on my toms recently I found the following three problems on three different plants. Could you help me with what I am facing, the severity and any solution, perhaps? Cheers!

December 12, 2009	#2
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	I dont know what the first two are, but the third is the trail from leafhoppers. The second photo could well be evidence of some pest that is chewing on the leaf. photos: http://images.google.com/images?rlz=...ed=0CBUQsAQwAA http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/~dietrich/lfhFAQ.html __________________ Michael

December 13, 2009	#7
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Hunt-Mild soap is good, pyrethrin is good also and organic. There are some predators that will help like lizards. Damselflies are natural enemies of leafhoppers. __________________ Michael

December 13, 2009	#8
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	Some organic approaches to mite control: http://www.ghorganics.com/page9.html#Mites: I seem to recall reading that a 1:1 mixture of rubbing alcohol and water sprayed on them will kill spider mites, too. __________________ -- alias

December 13, 2009	#10
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	hunt-happy to help. __________________ Michael

December 12, 2009	#3
TZ-OH6 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mid-Ohio Posts: 850	The damage is consistent with 1) Spider mites/ false spider mites (low humidity helps their populations, ...can be a big problem growing undoors) 2) Snails/slugs, baby caterpillars, other unknown 3) Leaf miners These are problems that tomatoes can generally outgrow (unless it is baby caterpillars)

December 12, 2009	#4
Blueaussi Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Zone 8a Posts: 1,205	What TZ-OH6 sez! 1. Spider mites are one of those things that are easy to control, but difficult to fully annihilate. They thrive in dry weather, so one of the easiest things to do is direct a stream of water under the leaves a couple of times a week. Most any common pesticide or soap will kill them, too. 2. Put a board on the ground under your plants over night. Turn it over in the morning and see if there are a lot of slugs. 3. Pick off damaged leaves and destroy to kill the adults or put out yellow sticky traps to catch them.

December 12, 2009	#5
Marko Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Slovenia, Europe zone 7b Posts: 300	Huntsman, good photos! 1. Spidermites are easily controlled with Floramite SC, I have no more problems with them since I'm using it. 2. Caterpillars can be a real problem. Check your plants thoroughly, they are usually the same color as leaves and hard to find. 3. Leaf miners are not a problem for tomato, but anyway destroy affected leaves.