Help for a newbie please

[Allotmentgirl]

Hi all,

New to all this. Got black aphids and sun damage on my tomato plants. Any advice welcome please

Thanks and happy growing

Sam

[Greenleaves]

Welcome to the vine, enjoy the benefits of the advice and humour Allotmentgirl

If your tomatoes are in a greenhouse you need to provide them shade, lots of options available, debris netting, old net curtains, glass shading paint etc.

With the aphids you can squish them with your fingers or apply a soft soap solution, if you are not bothered about chemical use then you can buy some bug spray.

Photos would help give better advice, and can you add your location to your profile, helps a lot with advice knowing where you are

[Scarlet]

Welcome to the vine Sam, sun damage can often be cause by too little water. The plants get dyhyrated a do limp in the sun and get burnt. How often are you watering, are they in pots or the ground? Have yo got any photos?
As for aphids, it really is a bad year and I've not seen many lady birds. Blast them off with water from a hose. As soon as you see ants on your plants, get rid of them too.

[Allotmentgirl]

Hi both

Thanks for your advice. I've got an ants nest nearby so wondering if that is part of the problem. How do I make the soap solution please?

Tomatoes are outside in the ground. Watering once a day. Is there anything I can do about the damage and will they survive?

I'm not sure how to add my location to my profile but I'm in Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire.

Sam

[Lumpy]

Hello Sam and I am glad you have joined our ever growing band of growers and eaters.

The ants nest near by might not be helping as ants herd aphids together and sort of farm them to produce honey dew which the ants like.

I don't suppose your toms could be dug up and put into large pots could they?

I have been known to use a kiddies water pistol with water and washing up liquid in to squirt the little bluggers but as Scarlet said they are everywhere at the moment so you might end up just trying to keep the numbers down rather than getting rid of them completely.

[Scarlet]

If they are inthe ground and you have watered well, it may be that the plant was wet in the direct sun which isn't great. Not seeing a photo is difficult, but I'm sure they will be fine and will recover, pick off the worst of the leaves.

[cariann88]

Hello and welcome to the vine,

I have found a link to help you make a soap solution....How to Use Household Dish Soap to Control Aphids | Home Guides | SF Gate

Try and not get the plants wet when watering, that could be the reason for sun damage. Give the soil a good watering when watering.

[bramble]

I use ant powder and shake it on the plants. My dahlias had a lot of ants this year and after one application of the powder they are almost gone.

[Sharpy]

Also see if you can get hold of some Marigolds. Inter plant these amongst the toms.

[Bill HH]

Dont be afraid to remove tomato leaves they have more than enough, I always remove the lower ones any way (up to the first truss, that makes it easier to water without wetting the leaves. As for watering make sure you give them enough, after you have watered scratch the soil surface a bit and it is often as dry as a bone. You can bury a bottle neck down with the bottom cut off then water into that to make sure the water is getting to the roots. Watch how much soap you use, too much dish washing soap can burn the leaves. I am not so anti ants, at least they are herding them into one place so its easier to find them. Feed you toms well it helps them overcome problems.