Tomato Root Loss: Wireworms and Crop Rotation

Diagnosing Missing Feeder Roots on Heirloom Tomatoes

Woody taproot with no feeder roots suggests wireworm or boring insect damage.

Do not plant nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes) in that area for 2-3 years.
Till soil 1-2x/year to expose larvae to birds.
Grow non-host crops: peas, beans, lettuce.
Rotate all vegetables annually for soil health.

Covering with black plastic for 3 months in summer can reduce pest populations.

Growing Vegetables: Planting Agave Around a Boulder: Root Pruning and Site Selection; Encouraging Root Growth on a Vanda Orchid; Saving Phalaenopsis with Rotted Roots: From Sphagnum Moss to Bark Mix; Phalaenopsis Aerial Roots Gone Wild: Repot or Let Them Be?; Directing Live Oak Roots Away from Septic Drainfield: Not Feasible; Protecting Tree Roots During Construction Near Lime Trees; Japanese Maple Roots Lifting Patio: What to Do?; Managing Invasive Tree Roots Damaging Structures; Wisteria Transplant Shock in Sandy UK Soil: Water and Fertilizer Fixes; Root Systems: The Hidden Engine of Plant Health

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