How do you keep tomato worm away? It’s a common question among gardeners. For many people, the answer is simple-make sure you’re using the right kind of tools to kill the worm. If you have one of two tomato species (green vs. white), you’ll need a different approach to how do you keep tomato worm away. Here’s how it works for me.
First, don’t try to get rid of this nematode by hand. You might be able to spot it and spray it off, but unless you use a very strong chemical-free detergent it will just wither away and soon be back in your garden where it belongs. Remember, all chemicals, including those sold at your local gardening store are dangerous. Tomato growers and gardeners have suffered horrible, long term damage from spraying their own tomatoes with poisons, not just tomato worms.
Second, when I want to know how do you keep tomato worm away, I always use commercial products. These products aren’t just specially formulated to keep pests away-they also make sure that your soil has enough calcium to keep the soil healthy. And since the nematode feeds off of calcium it will also prevent other nematodes from getting into your tomato plants. These products don’t just kill the worm; they also prevent future root growth of that nasty worm. Root growth is exactly how the nematode eats your tomatoes.
So, how do you keep tomato worms away in the first place then? You use baits, of course. Tomato plant enthusiasts will tell you that there are several different kinds of baits, but if you’re just starting out, stick to the classics. Use chicken manure or compost as bait. Simply mix some with your soil and apply a couple of inches around each tomato plant. This should do the trick in the beginning, but as your tomato plants grow you’ll need to add more bait to keep the nematode population under control.
Another way to keep tomato worm at bay is with a nematode pesticide. These work by killing the nematode itself, but they also affect the soil. The nematode can’t survive in nutrient-deficient soil, so any additional nutrients will be taken up by the soil and sent to the plants. The nematode must eat the pesticide or it will die within a few days. These products can be sprayed directly on the tomatoes, but be wary of residue that may appear later.
One of the best ways to keep tomato worm away is to make sure your tomatoes have good drainage. Watering them deeply every time will help keep them healthy. On the other hand, you can use a special tomato fertilizer that is specifically designed to help repel nematodes. You can purchase this product at most garden stores. In addition to the fertilizer, you can use a special tomato worm spray.
Keep the soil near the tomato plants clean. This helps keep tomato worms from having a place to live. If you see signs of rotting, discoloration, or signs of dampness or any sort of moisture – get rid of that soil. It’s not only unhealthy; it’s also a place that the nematode loves to live. After it eats the roots of the tomato, it returns to the soil to start another cycle. Introducing new, fertile soil to a tomato plant helps it keep its shape and healthy development.
How do you keep the tomato worms at bay? Most tomato growers find that keeping their plants healthy and happy comes down to the basics – keeping them watered and adding the right amount of fertilizer (often available at most garden centers) and then covering that with some sort of protective coating. A nematode is not much of a problem in this case. Tomato plants can handle a bit of extra nematode food and water, if they have enough space. The rest is up to you and your particular situation.