Worried about my toms!!

soba

Hello, not been on for a while, but I have a (potential) problem and need your help. I've been growing tomatoes in a container 'tumbler' variety, and they've been doing really well. In the last few days I've noticed a few small tomatoes and we're really excited! However at the same time the leaves have gone all droopy and sticky and some have little white specks on that look a bit like fine cotton wool, which I presume is some sort of pest? Do I need to get rid of them? TBH if it means spraying them at all I'd rather lose the toms as I can get fruit and veg sprayed with allsorts from anywhere. Please help if you can, my gardening book doesn't mention this type of problem.
Thanks,
soba

twink

think this could be white fly another year plant the small bedding marigolds beside them that seems to keep them away, you could try that yellow, sticky plastic things you get in garden centres to hang up and catch them if its white fly and you shake the plant you should see them fly

mirakl

I'd also pull off all the affected leaves and spray with lemon juice (it tends to bother garden pests and does the plant no harm).

soba

Thanks guys, just off to squeeze a lemon now!

katieowl_2

Soapy water will work too.... cheaper than lemons (a squirt of washing up liquid)

Regards