I don't think I'm cut out for this...

[liannenc]

After I got home from work today, I made my usual evening visit to my four plants on the deck. Tonight, I found that something has been eating/making holes in Carmello's leaves. I've attached some pics of what they look like. I'm not sure what's doing it, but I'm afraid it might be thrips. I did see a couple of teeny tiny dark bugs, but I can't pick them up to get a better look because they're so tiny. So, I started checking all of my plants and found a nice little aphid infestation on one of the lower branches of Goose Creek, which I promptly cut off and tossed in the trash.

I was out there at dusk spraying all of them down with insecticidal soap, and noticing that the leaves on Carmello seemed to be curling a lot... isn't that something tomatoes do at night, or is that something else I've got to worry about??

I tell you, this is nerve-wracking. I've only got the four plants, and no "back ups" so I was really counting on keeping all four of these. I'm hoping that y'all can reassure me about how hardy tomatoes can be, or I'll be insane by the end of the season!

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[JCBigBlue]

That looks like flea beetle damage to me. I have a small-scale problem with them. Do the bugs hop away like a flea when you try to pick them off?

Jon

[liannenc]

Jon,
Thanks for replying! I didn't see anything that hopped-- the bugs I did see were very small and the way they moved reminded me more of how earwigs move... "wiggly" is the only way I can think to describe it! Of course, it's entirely possible that the bugs I DID see are not the ones that caused that damage.

I'm hoping that the insecticidal soap I sprayed last night will knock-down the pest population until I can mix up a sprayer full of neem. I've not used that before, and I think I'm going to have to recruit my husband so that I can lift the branches and leaves while he sprays the underside. I can't imagine spraying by myself and being able to get the spray everywhere it needs to be.

Have those of you who have used neem had any issues with it? I bought it because it's natural, but the label still has a bunch of warnings about getting it on your skin. I'm not planning to bathe in the stuff, but I'm sure that when we spray I'll get some on me.

If anyone has a suggestion for something better than neem, by all means share. I'd prefer to do this organically, but I'm not opposed to calling in the big guns if that's what it takes for me to save my plants. I know that may ruffle some feathers here, but I'm going to do what I have to do.

[Blueaussi]

<spit!> Thrips don't make holes in the leaves, what you would see is a slight bronzing, usually in the upper leaves, and the leaves would curl up longways, like a boat. It would be rare for you to actually see a <spit!> thrip with the naked eye on a leaf. They're very small and usually on the underside or in the buds and growing tip.

I would second the flea beetle diagnosis, and I suspect some of the leaf curling might be due to the aphids.

[TZ-OH6]

Please don't freak out over a little bug damage. Healthy tomato plants can carry quite a few aphids, and survive alot of flea beetle holes with no trouble. Predatory insects, especially those that feed on aphids, need a minimum number of aphids around to support them. If the aphids are mostly gone the predators leave to find food, and then the aphid population can skyrocket. You can normally wipe off or spray off (hose) enough aphids to prevent serious damage in a small garden (you did more damage to the plant by removing the leaf than the aphids were doing). You can also plant naustutiums early in the season, which aphids like, to draw/keep aphid predators in/near your garden. And flea beetles like radishes better than tomatoes so you can plant a trap crop in with the tomatoes to help decrease the damage to the tomatoes.

[Worth1]

A few years ago I lost all 280 plants to neglect but not by me.

I wouldnt worry too much.
Remember plant for the world and you will always have enough for yourself.

Worth

[liannenc]

Thank you all for the reassurance. When I went out tonight to check on the plants, I didn't find any new damage and no new beasties. I will keep that in mind about wiping off aphids in the future. Since I'm checking on the plants every day, I'm reasonably sure I can catch any problems soon enough to nip them in the bud... at least the ones that are within my control!

Losing 280 plants???? Wow... that had to be tough! I'm really hoping that my four plants produce far more tomatoes than we can eat ourselves-- I'd love to share these heirlooms with my coworkers!

[kerry.heafner]

liannenc, I second what TZ-OH6 said. I'm feeling what you're going through. In my case, however, it's this little green leaf hopper (that's all I know to call it) that seems to girdle the midveins of leaves, and sometimes petioles and plant stems. I can pluck the little boogars off and squish them, but they can do a lot of damage quick.

I have found that a concoction/tea made from garlic and cayenne pepper is somewhat effective at repellling them. And though I walk through the valley in the shadow of leaf hoppers and a few white flies, I shall fear no evil, for I will kill the little buggers day-ed!

Hang in there.

A native Tarheel,