Growing tomatoes organically is a tasty way to go green. Organic tomatoes taste wonderful. At the same time, you will be able to help the environment by not using harmful chemicals. However, growing tomatoes organically can be quite a challenge. Tomatoes are very prone to pests. From the moment that a tiny leaf grows out of the soil until it is mature enough to be harvested, tomatoes are targeted by all sorts of pests. There are different types of tomato pests, but not matter how harmful they can be, there is always a way to prevent them.

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The following are pests which bore into buds and fruits or mine leaves.

Vegetable leafminers- usually colorless maggots which usually mine the leaves.

Tomato fruitworm- these are harmful insects which make holes on the fruit by chewing it.

Tomato pinworm- worms which create webs that fold the leaves together. They also bore holes on different parts of the plant leaving discolored blotches behind.

Blister beetles- elongated beetles which have very prominent heads. Plant growth can get stunted when infested with this insect.

Aphids- by secreting honeydew on the plant, it will become prone to mold growth. They cause discoloration on the plant. Aphids may be winged or wingless.

Stink bug- these are insects which are shaped like shields. These bugs pierce through fruits and buds. Buds can fall off when pierced by stink bugs while the fruits can get deformed.

Silverleaf whitefly- this insect can stunt the growth of plants. Furthermore, it can leave the plants unfertile.

Cutworm- these are caterpillars which are most active during nighttime. The young ones usually climb on stems. But the real problem is in the adult cutworms which severe young tomato seedlings.

By regularly looking after your tomato plant, you will be able to remove the insects that are near your plant waiting for the right time to strike. It is really not necessary to use insecticides. Keep your garden clean and free from any type of insects. You can cover the base of the plant with paper or cardboard as a protection against crawling insects.