Tomato IPM Module
Practical IPM plan for tomatoes covering protected tomato crops, glasshouse production, tunnels and long-season systems.
This page focuses on whitefly, Tuta absoluta, spider mite, aphids, thrips, russet mite, Botrytis and crop hygiene.
Quick summary
Main pest risks
Whitefly, Tuta absoluta, spider mite, aphids, thrips, tomato russet mite and leafminer.
Main disease pressure
Botrytis risk increases with dense foliage, poor airflow, pruning wounds and humidity.
Main IPM principle
Keep monitoring consistent, maintain beneficial continuity and remove pest reservoirs early.
Tomato IPM is strongly influenced by crop length, crop hygiene, temperature, humidity, pruning wounds and pest carryover.
Long-season protected tomato crops can support very stable biological control, but they can also allow pest populations to persist if monitoring slips.
Main pest risks
| Pest | Risk level | Key trigger | Inspect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitefly | High | Protected crops and carryover | Lower leaves |
| Tuta absoluta | High | Warm crops and poor exclusion | Leaves, stems and fruit |
| Spider mites | Moderate–High | Hot dry canopy | Lower leaves and hotspots |
| Aphids | Moderate | Soft growth | Young leaves and shoots |
| Thrips | Moderate | Warm protected conditions | Flowers and young leaves |
| Tomato russet mite | High if present | Hot dry crops | Lower stems and bronzed leaves |
| Leafminer | Moderate | Protected crops and imports | Leaf mines |
| Botrytis | High | Humidity and wounds | Pruning wounds and old tissue |
Crop stage plan
| Crop stage | Main risk | Practical focus |
|---|---|---|
| Propagation / young plants | Aphids, whitefly, sciarid fly | Inspect incoming plants and sticky traps |
| Establishment | Whitefly, aphids, early mite | Start biological foundation early |
| Vegetative growth | Aphids, whitefly, Botrytis | Manage soft growth and airflow |
| Flowering / fruit set | Whitefly, thrips, Botrytis | Maintain monitoring and avoid pest reservoirs |
| Full production | Whitefly, Tuta, spider mite | Continue biological control and hotspot checks |
| Summer heat | Spider mite, russet mite, Tuta | Watch hot dry zones and lower canopy |
| End of crop | Carryover pests | Clean-down and remove plant waste |
Monitoring plan
| Area | What to look for | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow sticky traps | Whitefly, aphids, leafminer, Tuta adults | Weekly |
| Lower leaves | Whitefly scales, spider mite, russet mite symptoms | Weekly |
| Plant heads | Aphids and new whitefly activity | Weekly |
| Leaf surface | Tuta mines and leafminer mines | Weekly |
| Stems | Russeting, bronzing and Botrytis wounds | Weekly |
| Fruit clusters | Tuta damage, Botrytis, pest shelters | Weekly |
| Hotspots | Local pest build-up | Every visit |
Environmental risk
| Condition | Likely issue | Management response |
|---|---|---|
| Warm protected crop | Whitefly and Tuta | Maintain monitoring and biological continuity |
| Hot and dry | Spider mite and russet mite | Reduce stress and inspect lower canopy |
| Dense foliage | Botrytis and hidden pests | Improve pruning, spacing and airflow |
| High humidity | Botrytis | Improve dry-down and avoid wet wounds |
| Soft growth | Aphids and whitefly | Review nitrogen and crop balance |
| Crop overlap | Whitefly and Tuta carryover | Avoid pest bridges between crops |
| Poor hygiene | Tuta and Botrytis persistence | Remove waste leaves and damaged fruit |
Biological control programme
Preventative phase
Start early, especially where whitefly has been a historic problem.
Focus on:
- whitefly parasitoids and predators
- early leaf inspections
- sticky trap monitoring
- pest-free young plants
- clean propagation and crop hygiene
Establishment phase
During crop establishment:
- monitor lower leaves carefully
- avoid carrying pests from old crops into new crops
- keep humidity and airflow balanced
- remove weak or heavily infested plants early
Production phase
During full production:
- continue weekly pest counts
- maintain beneficial continuity
- avoid unnecessary disruptive treatments
- respond to hotspots before they spread
- remove old leaves and plant waste promptly
Pest-specific notes
Whitefly
Whitefly is often the main protected tomato pest.
Key actions:
- inspect lower leaves for scales
- use sticky traps for adult movement
- maintain parasitoid/predator continuity
- avoid pest bridges from old crops
- remove heavily infested old leaves where practical
Tuta absoluta
Tuta absoluta can damage leaves, stems and fruit.
Key actions:
- use pheromone monitoring where appropriate
- inspect mines and fruit damage
- remove infested plant waste
- maintain crop hygiene
- avoid allowing leaf waste to remain in the crop
Spider mites
Spider mites increase in hot, dry areas.
Key actions:
- check lower leaves and hot zones
- identify hotspots early
- reduce plant stress
- support predatory mite activity
- avoid waiting until webbing appears
Tomato russet mite
Tomato russet mite is difficult to see directly and is often detected by symptoms.
Key actions:
- watch for bronzing and russeting
- inspect lower stems and lower leaves
- act early if symptoms appear
- avoid allowing spread up the crop
- remove badly affected tissue where practical
Aphids
Aphids usually build on soft growth.
Key actions:
- inspect growing points
- avoid excessive soft growth
- preserve parasitoids and predators
- respond quickly to colonies
Thrips
Thrips may be less central than in strawberries or ornamentals, but still matter in warm protected crops.
Key actions:
- monitor flowers and young leaves
- inspect sticky traps
- avoid disruption of predators
- check for virus risk where relevant
Leafminer
Leafminer causes visible mines in leaves.
Key actions:
- remove heavily mined leaves where practical
- monitor adult flies on sticky traps
- protect parasitoid activity
- avoid unnecessary broad disruption
Botrytis and wound management
Botrytis in tomatoes is strongly linked to:
- pruning wounds
- leaf removal wounds
- high humidity
- poor airflow
- dead plant material
- dense foliage
Useful actions:
- prune in conditions that allow wounds to dry
- avoid leaving leaf waste in the crop
- improve airflow around stems
- remove infected tissue early
- avoid prolonged humidity around wounds
Canopy and hygiene
Tomato crops benefit strongly from good hygiene.
Focus on:
- removing old leaves
- removing fallen plant waste
- managing pruning wounds
- keeping pathways clean
- avoiding fruit waste build-up
- preventing pest bridges between crops
Good hygiene supports biological control by reducing pest reservoirs.
Seasonal calendar
| Period | Main IPM focus |
|---|---|
| Propagation | Clean plants and early monitoring |
| Establishment | Whitefly prevention and biological foundation |
| Early growth | Aphid checks, lower leaf monitoring and airflow |
| Flowering | Whitefly, thrips and Botrytis awareness |
| Full production | Tuta, whitefly, mite and hygiene management |
| Summer heat | Spider mite and russet mite risk |
| End of crop | Clean-down and carryover prevention |
Linked tools
Use this module alongside:
Key message
Tomato IPM works best as a long-season stability programme.
The aim is to stop whitefly, Tuta, mites and Botrytis becoming established reservoirs inside the crop. Early monitoring, clean plants, biological continuity, airflow and hygiene are the foundation of control.