Tomato Leaf Issue - Ask Extension
Please help identify the tomato leaf issue shown in the attached photos and recommend any possible mitigation. This has shown up on Early Girl, Better...
Knowledgebase
Tomato Leaf Issue #844800
Asked August 08, 2023, 5:36 PM EDT
Please help identify the tomato leaf issue shown in the attached photos and recommend any possible mitigation. This has shown up on Early Girl, Better Boy, and Super Sweet cherry tomatoes. It is more prevalent on older, lower leaves.
Thank you.
Boulder County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Gerry,
The damage on the leaves you sent pictures of look very similar to flea beetle damage.
Although flea beetles are common, injuries often are insignificant to plant health. On established plants, 20-30 percent or more of the leaf area must be destroyed before there is any effect on yield. The plants most likely to benefit from treatment are more sensitive seedlings, plants grown for ornamental purposes or for edible greens, and potatoes that may be affected by tuber flea beetle larvae.
Here's a link to a fact sheet about Flea Beetles in case you're curious about knowing more. It has a nice section called "Cultural Controls" on how you can mitigate the issues with simple solutions. My favorite for flea beetles if using a trap crop (I use radishes) which essentially is a sacrificial crop you grow that the flea beetle enjoy dining on instead.
I hope this helps!
Boulder County Master Gardeners
The damage on the leaves you sent pictures of look very similar to flea beetle damage.
Although flea beetles are common, injuries often are insignificant to plant health. On established plants, 20-30 percent or more of the leaf area must be destroyed before there is any effect on yield. The plants most likely to benefit from treatment are more sensitive seedlings, plants grown for ornamental purposes or for edible greens, and potatoes that may be affected by tuber flea beetle larvae.
Here's a link to a fact sheet about Flea Beetles in case you're curious about knowing more. It has a nice section called "Cultural Controls" on how you can mitigate the issues with simple solutions. My favorite for flea beetles if using a trap crop (I use radishes) which essentially is a sacrificial crop you grow that the flea beetle enjoy dining on instead.
I hope this helps!
Boulder County Master Gardeners
Thank you for the useful information.
Gerry
On 8/9/2023 6:09 PM, Ask Extension wrote: