Preventing Spider Mites on Tomatoes

Once you have a spider mite infestation, it's very difficult to get rid of them. By the time you see them, your plant is pretty much doomed. Prevention is everything.

What Spider Mites Look Like

The spider mites on tomatoes are typically orange-red in color. They live on the underside of leaves and aren't easily seen. By the time you notice them, the damage is done.

My Experience with Spider Mites

A few years back, spider mites attacked my tomatoes every year. About the time warm/hot temperatures began, the spider mites returned. I lost plants year after year.

Then I started using sulfur dust. No more yearly spider mites—they vanished. Now I have tomatoes into August and beyond.

How to Prevent Spider Mites

Sulfur dust prevents spider mites from attacking tomatoes. It's that simple.

When to apply: 2-3 weeks after planting, apply a light coating of sulfur dust to stop any fungus that has started and prevent spider mite infestation.

Don't wait: If you wait until you see spider mites, it's usually too late. Your plant will be too far gone, too infested, overrun. When that's the case, pull it out and put it in the trash.

Whether you see problems or not, you're almost certain to have some kind of fungus developing. The sulfur dust handles both issues—fungus and spider mites.

The Bottom Line

Prevention beats treatment every time with spider mites. Apply sulfur dust early and regularly. Don't wait for problems to appear.

---

Next Steps

Master the growing fundamentals →
Protect plants in heat (when mites thrive) →
Keep plants healthy with proper watering →

Dave Freed / The Tomato Guy