Gardeners issued warning over whiteflies if they want their tomatoes to bloom

Gardeners planning on growing crops or flowers should be aware of whiteflies, which can destroy a garden if not dealt with quickly. 

Whiteflies are pests closely related to aphids and are known to infest many vegetable crops grown at this time of year such as tomatoes but are also infamous for eating away at roses.

These pests suck the sap from plant leaves which greatly weakens the plant, and can lead to stunted growth, wilted leaves and no flower or fruit being produced at all.  

After feeding on a plant, whiteflies are also known to leave a sticky residue that makes plants more vulnerable to disease according to David Domoney, a horticulturist with over 30 years of experience and known for his work on the show Love Your Garden. 

On his blog, David explained: “Whitefly can be a major pest in greenhouses and conservatories.  They suck the sap out of plant leaves, excreting a sticky substance known as honeydew, which in turn can encourage fungal growth called sooty mould.” 

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How to keep whiteflies away 

It is very easy to keep whiteflies away from your greenhouse or garden according to David, as all you need to know are a few natural remedies which are quick to set up. 

A very effective way to kill whiteflies is with sticky paper used on most flies - but it is important to buy it in yellow as the colour is known to draw these pests as it mimics the colour of newly-grown foliage which they enjoy feeding on. 

David explained: “Whiteflies are attracted to yellow. And yellow sticky traps, I’ve bought them in the past, do work well. All you need to do is hang them inside the greenhouse – a simple option.” 

You can also use whiteflies as natural predators, Encarsia, to keep them away. David said: “The parasitic wasp Encarsia formosa is commonly used to predate on them. You can buy them online or from your local garden centre.” 

One of the “simplest” ways to deter whiteflies is to fumigate them, but you do not need to use toxic chemicals. Instead, all you need is garlic as its strong aroma is known to repel insects and David highly recommends burning garlic-scented candles. 

David said: “Suitable for use at any time of the year, whiteflies are repelled by the smell of garlic. Best of all the candle will not taint any fruit or veg growing that you have in there.

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How to prevent whiteflies from hurting plants 

It is far less work to try and prevent pests than to try and get rid of them once they are destroying your garden. 

To keep whiteflies away, it is best to keep on top of your greenhouse if you own one and give it a “good clean” now as whiteflies are known to search somewhere warm to lay their eggs during the colder weather. 

Make sure to keep an eye on all your plants but remove any you no longer wish to keep as it prevents whiteflies from using them as a habitat. 

David added: “Remember to make sure there is good ventilation in [the greenhouse] too. Good airflow prevents the spread of not just pests, but also mould and or diseases that can impact plant health.”

Be on the lookout for any sticky white substance on plant leaves, which is a sure sign whiteflies are around but you can easily clean the foliage once if it has been fed on. 

David said: “Should you spot any honeydew and sooty mould, this can be wiped off affected leaves with a clean, damp cloth.”