Preventing spider mites on tomato plants

So, how do you control spider mites?

The spider mites typically seen on tomatoes are kind of orange-red in color. Once you have an infestation it’s very difficult to get rid of them as they are on the underside of leaves and not easily seen. By the time you see them your tomato plant is pretty much doomed.

Here are some pictures of my tomato plants badly infested with spider mites and then we’ll talk how to prevent spider mites.

Above-See the little webs that accompany the spider mites? This is one sick tomato. There’s no saving it

Closer up pictures of the spider mites on tomatoes, you can’t miss them once plants are badly infested. A few years back spider mites attacked my tomatoes every year. About the time warm/hot temperatures began, the spider mites returned.

How do you prevent spider mites from infesting and killing tomato plants?

Sulfur dust prevents spider mites from attacking tomatoes. After I started using sulfur dust, no more yearly spider mites … they vanished. And now I have tomatoes August forward. Read/review how to use and apply sulfur dust.

Whether you see problems or not on your tomato plants and you are almost certain to see some kind of fungus. Apply a light coating of sulfur dust 2-3 weeks after planting to stop any fungus that has started on your plants and to prevent a spider mite infestation. If you wait until you see the spider mites, it’s usually too late. Your tomato plant will be to far gone. It will be too infested, overrun with spider mites. And when that’s the case pull it out and put it in the trash.

You are welcome to share this information with others—family, friends and clubs, etc.

Sharing tips helps us be better growers.

Dave Freed /  the Tomato Guy