Tomato Spotted Wilt
This problem spreads through handling, insects or soil rather than the weather, so there is no live forecast risk — focus on prevention below.
When it strikes
About
Tomato spotted wilt virus is spread by thrips and infects tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and hundreds of ornamentals worldwide, causing severe yield and quality loss with no cure.
Symptoms
Bronzing and inward cupping of young leaves, dark streaks on stems, ringspots and uneven colouring on fruit, and one-sided stunting of the plant.
Organic Treatment
Remove infected plants promptly, control thrips with blue sticky traps and predatory mites, and clear weed reservoirs around the garden.
Chemical Treatment
No cure; thrips insecticides reduce spread but resistance is common, so integrate with biological control.
Prevention
Use virus-tested transplants and resistant varieties, manage thrips and weeds, and use reflective mulch to deter the vector.