Like you I tried the soap and water thing and each time it worked for about three days and then they were back again – it took too long doing that so eventually I bought some bug spray.

The first bug spray was rubbish and I forget the name. Then someone reccomended ‘Ultimate bug killer’ and that has done the trick – well for now at least.

I’ve started started chopping back my tomato plants recently. Its the first time I tried this approach. I think it is working well.

I started from the bottom and removed all leaves up to the first truss. This has a couple of benefits, air flow increased under plant, stops unnecessary growth down there, easier to water without touching leaves and removed old beat up leaves from plant.

Then I left the plants chill out for a week to get over the shock.

Next up I topped all my plants after the fifth truss. I’ve been diligently removing suckers all season bar one, so I have two vines on each plant.

Finally I removed about 1/3 of all leaves up the plant. Especially ones that were covering a truss (no chance of fruit burn in Cork I can assure you!).

Fruit is swelling nicely (Gardeners Delight is far and away my best performer). My money maker is just turning orange. All others are very light green.

All five of my plants are kept outside. This is my fourth season keeping them all out doors.

Happy harvesting!
John