Pests & Diseases

Biological Control

An environment ideal for growing tomatoes also provides an ideal environment for the tomato’s pests. In the past pesticides were used to control the unwanted pests but for years predatory insects have been introduced into the glasshouses that prey on these pests such as whitefly and red spidermite. The pests that can be controlled using beneficial insects include; whitefly, red spider and leafminer. Where there is a particular ‘hot spot’ of pests sprays such as ‘soapy water’ may be used which can stick the wings together of the whitefly or block the breathing holes of the redspider.

Thus, although nature has given us the problem of pests, it has also provided us with natural solutions. The team of benefical insects has allowed Eric Wall Ltd to grow without the use of artificial pesticides. The staff are very experienced and skilled in spotting problems early and this gives us the best possible chance of controlling them.

What is a pesticide?

A pesticide is a chemical used to control pests - both animal and plant.

An artificial pesticide is a chemical manufactured by man to control pests.

There are natural substances that can be used to control pests such as soapy water effective in sticking the wings of whitefly together or suffocate spidermites.