Agriculture: Tomato Pest Management Guidelines

First Red Fruit

This year-round IPM program covers the major pests of California tomatoes grown for processing.

About First Red Fruit (Preharvest)

  • Special issues of concern related to water quality: Insecticide application, fungicide application, drift, fertilizer application, runoff due to irrigation.

What should you be doing during this time?

Control irrigation to maintain yield and fruit quality.

If a late harvest is planned, consider management options for:

  • Blackmold
  • Powdery mildew, unless a few weeks before harvest

Take leaf samples for:

  • Tomato fruitworm
  • Potato aphid

Keep records on a monitoring form (PDF).

Monitor fruit for armyworm damage and distinguish from fruitworm and cutworm damage. Keep records on a monitoring form (PDF) for armyworm.

Survey for weeds just before harvest for next year's planning. Keep records on a survey form (PDF).

Sporadic or minor pests you may see:

  • Cutworms
  • Flea beetles
  • Hornworms
  • Leafminers
  • Lygus bugs
  • Tomato pinworm
  • Tomato psyllid
  • Whiteflies
Text Updated: 12/13
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