Aphids on tomatoes often trigger a destructive chain reaction in which the harvest falls by the wayside. With the help of these instructions you can effectively put a stop to the plague - without having to use chemicals.
How do I fight aphids on tomatoes naturally?
To biologically combat aphids on tomatoes, you can use milk-water mix, vinegar-water, nettle broth or tobacco decoction. Alternatively, primary rock flour, algae lime or charcoal ash also help. To prevent this, plants should be properly ventilated and cared for.
Deciphering causes
Fighting aphids directly only works for a short time. It is important to investigate the causes. Only when the triggering factors have been eliminated can you get rid of the pests permanently. These conditions magically attract aphids:
- a poorly ventilated location in the greenhouse
- cold drafts under the tomato canopy or in the polytunnel
- incorrect dosage of fertilizer
- constantly moist leaves
- a partially shaded location
It is primarily young tomato plants that aphids target. The parasites make no difference whether the cultivation is in the greenhouse, in the bed or on the balcony. The larger, more vital and robust the tomato plant, the more likely it is to be spared from lice.
Fighting aphids biologically
If you have discovered the tiny green, brown or black aphids, the following biological sprays can help:
- Milk-water mix in a ratio of 1:1
- Vinegar-water made from 1 liter of water and 1 tablespoon of vinegar
- Nettle broth, made from 10 liters of water and 1 kilogram of nettle leaves
- Tobacco decoction, consisting of loose tobacco dissolved in water
These home remedies are applied repeatedly until the infestation pressure subsides or has completely disappeared. If at the same time there is a risk of infection with brown rot, the foliage should not be moistened. In this case, alternatives are available.
Take action against lice on tomatoes with primary rock flour
Grinded sedimentary rock from the Jurassic formation is widely used in organic farming. It turned out that lice on tomatoes can be effectively combated with the fine powder. Applied repeatedly using a powder syringe (€7.00 on Amazon) in the early hours of the morning, you will quickly have the plague under control. You can achieve a similar effect with algae lime and pure charcoal ash.
Tips & Tricks
To combat aphids in the greenhouse, you can get help from their natural predators. In specialist shops you can get lacewing larvae, two-spotted ladybirds and parasitic wasps, which like to eat lice on tomatoes.
