Yates Nature's Way Organic Citrus, Vegie & Ornamental Spray
Unique organically certified pyrethrum and plant-based oil combination insecticide, with twin modes of action against garden pests.
Yates Account
Join now
Create a Yates account today!
Sign up to join the Yates Garden Club for monthly e-mails packed with seasonal inspiration, tips for success & exclusive promotions.
Plus if you’re a Garden Club member you can take part in the Yates Growing Community - a blog to share successes, get advice & win prizes in fun challenges along the way!
Forgot password
Enter the email address associated with your account, and we'll email you a new password.
Home grown tomatoes are renowned for their flavour, but they can suffer from a number of different challenges.
Guidelines for healthy tomatoes
- Many tomato diseases are carried in the soil, so choose a different spot to plant out each year (avoid planting in the same part of the garden for at least three years). If you don’t have enough space for this, think about growing tomatoes in a pot. Ensure pots are a minimum 400-500mm wide, so they don't dry out too fast in the sun.
- Some viral tomato diseases are spread by small sap-sucking insects such as aphids and thrips. Watch out for these little horrors – even though they’re tiny they can be deadly carriers. Spray leaves thoroughly with Yates Nature's Way Organic Citrus, Vegie & Ornamental Spray.
- Some tomato diseases are fungal which, like all fungi, need moisture for spores to germinate, so the first step is to keep the tomato leaves dry. Do this by applying water only at the base of the plant and by watering in the morning, so the leaves can quickly dry off. Removing lower leaves will help, too – they can be affected by water splashing up from the soil – as will mulching around the base of the plant.
- When buying tomato plants or seeds, look for varieties that mention disease resistance. Tomatoes are particularly disease-prone in warm, humid climates, so wilt-resistant varieties such as Tomato Big Beef Hybrid and Tomato Roma are good choices for these areas.
- Prevent blossom end rot – sunken rotted-looking areas at the base of the fruit – by applying Yates Thrive Natural Garden Lime or gypsum before planting. Water regularly and mulch plants to avoid fluctuations in soil temperature and moisture.
- Tomato grubs chew holes into the fruit and ruin it, using Yates Success Ultra will help control these grubs, along with any caterpillars on the leaves.
- Leaves that are distorted, yellow, or have black spots could be the symptoms of Tomato Blight. Prevent by spraying regularly with Yates Liquid Copper and remove affected plants.
- Well-fed plants are better able to resist pests and diseases. Feed regularly with Yates Thrive Tomato Granular Plant Food.
- Finally – if all else fails – grow cherry tomatoes. They don’t seem to be troubled by anything!
Yates Success Ultra Insect Control - Concentrate
Helps control common caterpillars, thrips, codling moth and tomato potato psyllid. Contains spinetoram derived from beneficial soil bacteria.
Yates Thrive Tomato Granular Plant Food
Specially formulated to grow all types of tomatoes. With high potassium for more prolific, tasty tomatoes and calcium to help grow strong tomatoes.
More project guides & articles
Solving Citrus Problems
How to diagnose common citrus problems, with tips on how to resolve them.
The Yates History of Tough Times
Kiwi gardeners are continuing to embrace vegie gardening, to take control of high living costs. It's inspired us to have a look through our archives, to see how our great-grandparents did it, with tips from Great-Great-Grandma on how to start up your own 1930s garden!
Winter gardening
Here's how you can help protect your garden from chills and frost this winter.
Tiny Garden Inspiration
Even the smallest empty spaces have room for a garden. And the smaller the garden, the easier it is to bring your vision to life! Here are our tips for creating a gorgeous or productive happy place, in miniature.
Share
Share this article on social media