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The only way to combat common tomato problems, such as verticillium
wilt, fusarium wilt and nematodes, is by purchasing hybrid
disease-resistant seedlings. Look for the letters V (verticillium
wilt), F (fusarium wilt) and NT (nematodes), which appear
after the name of the hybrid tomato. The letters indicate
the variety has some degree of resistance to the problem indicated.
Also, rotate your plants every two years.
The major insect pest of tomato plants is the tomato hornworm,
which can skeletonize a plant within hours. Handpicking and
destroying the worm is advisable. The tomato plant reacts
to a hornworm attack by exuding a chemical similar to mammal
pheromone. Braconid wasps detect the scent, find the hornworm
and lay parasitic eggs on its body that hatch and kill the
worm. Unfortunately, by the time the wasps find this worm,
major plant damage has already occurred.
It is suggested that planting marigolds, basil, mint and alliums
with tomatoes helps deter pests and diseases. Scientific evidence
has yet to verify companion planting benefits, but it may
be worth trying.
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