Wondering how to get rid of the whiteflies on your tomato plants? And how to do it fast? Whiteflies can be devastating to a tomato plant – and unfortunately – in several different ways.
For starters, whiteflies love to feed on the leaves of tomato plants. They do this because they love the sap that is inside of the leaves. When they devour the sap, it causes leaves to yellow, curl, and eventually die. As they feed, they take precious nutrients from the plant.
Not only are the leaves affected, but the entire plant begins to suffer from a lack of nutrition. That can lead to lower bloom and fruit production. It can also leave the plant far more susceptible to disease and pest attacks.
Whiteflies can also cause a fungal infection in tomato plants as well. And if all of that wasn’t enough, the energy whiteflies steal from plants can cause the few tomatoes that do appear to ripen unevenly. Usually, when this occurs, a portion of the tomato rots from over. Most often, it results in the fruit becoming completely inedible.
One thing is for sure, allowing whiteflies to stick around and increase in numbers can be disastrous for your garden. The good news? Battling whiteflies can be done quickly with the right treatments. And even better, without the need for questionable chemical sprays!
4 Simple Methods To Safely Get Rid Of Whiteflies
How Whiteflies Live
What really makes fighting whiteflies tough is that they can be hard to spot when they first arrive. Unfortunately, these tiny little creatures prefer to hang out on the underside of plants. Because of that, they often go unnoticed until it’s too late and damage occurs.
Whiteflies begin by laying eggs on the leaves of the plant. It can take about ten days for the eggs to hatch, but once they do, the young whiteflies (known as nymphs) begin feeding on the plant’s leaves and sap immediately.
As they do this, they continue to find new leaves and new plants to consume. When you consider an adult whitefly can live for an entire month, not only can it cause a tremendous amount of damage, but it can reproduce at an alarming rate.
And although they love tomato leaves, they will attack other nearby plants as well. In fact, whiteflies can actually be incredibly devastating to a long list of plants in the vegetable garden once they appear. So how can you get rid of whiteflies fast? The first line of defense is with a quick spray of soapy water!
Using Soap & Water Spray To Get Rid Of Whiteflies
One of the easiest, fastest and most economical methods to get rid of whiteflies is with a simple homemade mixture of liquid dish soap and water. To make, simply mix four tablespoons of liquid soap to one gallon of water. Affiliate Link: Sonett Organic Dishwashing Liquid
The best way to apply the mixture is with a small hand held spray bottle or a larger sprayer. Simply mix well and spray it on the leaves of the affected tomato plants. Always be sure to hit the undersides of the plants where the whiteflies usually reside and hide.
Whiteflies that come in contact with this solution will be killed instantly. Since liquid soap is mild, there is no worry about harming the tomato plant. Repeat the process daily for at least 7 days to eliminate any that may still be hanging around your plants.
Neem Oil – The Perfect Organic Spray For Whiteflies
Neem oil can not only keep whiteflies at bay but other pests and insects as well. In addition to keeping whiteflies away, a neem oil spray will smother the larvae and eggs, thereby eliminating the entire population of whiteflies all at once. It is especially helpful when there is a heavy infestation. Affiliate Product Link: Neem Oil Spray
To make your neem oil mix, combine four teaspoons of neem oil to 1 gallon of regular water. Some gardeners like to add a few drops of organic liquid dish soap to the solution as it helps the spray adhere better to the whiteflies and leaves of their tomato plants.
Neem oil is 100% organic so there is no worry of using it on vegetable plants. It is made by pressing the seeds of a neem tree for oil. It is an all-natural organic insecticide that can be effective in the fight against many pests – including even ticks! See our article: How To Eliminate Ticks In Your Yard With Neem Oil.
Repelling Whiteflies – Eliminating The Problem Before It Ever Begins
One of the best ways to get rid of whiteflies for good is to make your garden unfriendly to them. And that all starts with having beneficial insects already there. Ladybugs, dragonflies, parasitic wasps and even garden spiders all love to dine on whiteflies.
Although you can often purchase beneficial insects for release, the best and easiest way to bring them in is by planting the plants they love to visit. Marigolds, zinnias and nasturtiums are all flowers that attract the beneficial insects that can feed on whiteflies.
There are also plants you can grow that actually repel whiteflies. Marigolds, basil, thyme, and chives are all known to keep whiteflies far away. To have them work for you, simply plant them as companion plants right along or near your tomato plants and watch whiteflies disappear from your garden!
Using Worm Castings To Eliminate Whiteflies
Did you know that worm castings are not only great for powering your tomato plants as a low and slow fertilizer, they also happen to help get rid of whiteflies away in a big way.
Worm castings help to increase an enzyme in the soil and plants that whiteflies detest. And when plants contain higher levels of this specific enzyme, whiteflies will not feed from them. Simply plant a half cup of worm castings in your planting hole, or sprinkle a cup around your plants.
As the casting’s nutrients soak into the plant, the enzyme levels increase, defending your plants naturally from attack. At the same time, the worm castings fertilize the soil, improving the tomato plant’s yield. It’s a win-win for tomato plants for sure!
Here is to getting rid of whiteflies naturally this year – and to keeping your tomato plants safe!
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This Is My Garden is a garden website created by gardeners, for gardeners. Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books and speaking for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. They publish three articles every week, 52 weeks a year. Sign up today to follow via email, or follow along!