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Tomatoes growing well, new raised bed with netting but now I see pest damage - I cannot see the culprits, only the damage. Recommendations?
Hi @aleve,
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is wonderful to have you with us.
Common tomato pests in Melbourne include flea beetles, caterpillars, sawfly larvae, and slugs or snails.
Before recommending any treatment, the most important step is correctly identifying the pest. Different insects can cause similar damage to tomatoes, but they require very different control methods, so treating without identification often leads to poor results.
I note that there are what appear to be either eggs or small insects on the leaves in your second photo -
Is it possible to get a close-up photo of these? Can you see things like this elsewhere? I suspect there's a good chance these are either the culprits or will help us identify the culprits.
It is also likely worth inspecting your tomato plants at night, as pests often hide during the day and are more active at night.
If we can't identify the specific cause, Richgro Beat-A-Bug Naturally Based Insect Spray, which is a natural chilli and garlic-based deterrent, can help to deter common pests. It should be sprayed thoroughly over the whole surface of the plant, ensuring it gets on all sides of the fruit and the leaves.
If you can identify the insect, then we can certainly look if there is a more tailored solution.
Also, please allow me to tag our knowledgeable gardeners @mich1972, @Noelle and @Adam_W to see if they have any thoughts.
Jacob
