How do you keep fruit flies off your ripening tomatoes?

Labradors2 · August 18, 2014

I haven't even bought any peaches yet, but the fruit flies have found their way into my kitchen and into some of the tomatoes that are ripening on the counter(those darned SPLIT Lemon Drop cherries!!!)

A friend mentioned that she puts her tomatoes in mesh bags and it seems to help to keep out the fruit flies. These bags are sold in some of the high-end grocery stores around here so that eco-friendly shoppers don't have to use clear plastic bags when buying their fruit and veggies. The bags can also be bought on-line.

At first I was doing daily inspections of each tomato, but I obviously wasn't diligent enough recently, as a cloud of them flew up from those Lemon Drops this morning!

Fruit fly traps help, and can be baited with Apple Cider Vinegar or even apple-scented Dawn. I should probably get one going right now.....

Linda

August 18, 2014	#1
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,896	How do you keep fruit flies off your ripening tomatoes? I haven't even bought any peaches yet, but the fruit flies have found their way into my kitchen and into some of the tomatoes that are ripening on the counter(those darned SPLIT Lemon Drop cherries!!!) A friend mentioned that she puts her tomatoes in mesh bags and it seems to help to keep out the fruit flies. These bags are sold in some of the high-end grocery stores around here so that eco-friendly shoppers don't have to use clear plastic bags when buying their fruit and veggies. The bags can also be bought on-line. At first I was doing daily inspections of each tomato, but I obviously wasn't diligent enough recently, as a cloud of them flew up from those Lemon Drops this morning! Fruit fly traps help, and can be baited with Apple Cider Vinegar or even apple-scented Dawn. I should probably get one going right now..... Linda