Published July 28, 2025 • Updated June 26, 2026
Reviewed by Julie Miller, BA in Language Arts, Editorial Lead, Dr. Killigan’s
TL;DR: To get rid of aphids on tomato plants, inspect stems, buds and leaf undersides, rinse away visible clusters, prune damaged growth and treat the plant as directed. Recheck often to protect new growth and help prevent the colony from returning.
Aphids love tender tomato growth. Here's how to stop them before they weaken the plant or threaten your harvest.
More than a nuisance, aphids feed on tomato plants and leave behind sticky honeydew. If you’ve spotted curling leaves, shiny residue or clusters of tiny green, black or white bugs, your plant may be hosting an active colony.
What do aphids look like on tomato plants?
Aphids are tiny, soft-bodied insects that gather on tender tomato growth and feed by piercing plant tissue to suck out sap. They often cluster on stems, flower buds and the undersides of leaves, where new growth provides an easy food source.
Left unchecked, a small cluster of aphids can grow quickly, weakening tomato plants and making it harder for them to produce healthy foliage and fruit.
Signs aphids are affecting your tomato plants
- Curling or distorted new leaves.
- Sticky honeydew on leaves and stems.Â
- Ants climbing your plantsÂ
- Yellowing foliageÂ
- Slower plant growthÂ
- Sooty mold developing on honeydew
How to get rid of aphids on tomato plants
Once you spot aphids, work through the steps in order. Each one helps reduce the infestation while protecting your tomato plants and encouraging healthy new growth.
1. Rinse away visible aphids
Start by spraying the plant with a steady stream of water. Focus on stems, flower buds and the undersides of leaves, where aphids often gather. This removes many of the insects before you apply a treatment.
2. Prune heavily infested growth
If leaves or stems are badly curled, weakened or covered with aphids, prune them away. Removing the most heavily infested growth makes the rest of the plant easier to inspect and treat. Dispose of the cuttings away from your garden.
3. Treat with Doom & Bloom
After removing visible aphids, treat the tomato plant with Doom & Bloom: Plant and Garden Insect Spray. Spot test first, then apply as directed across affected areas.
Powered by soybean oil, Doom & Bloom targets soft-bodied plant pests, including aphids. It works mechanically by affecting the pest’s outer layer and respiration, helping control aphids on contact without a heavy odor or sticky residue.
For heavier activity, repeat applications may be needed every 3 days. Apply during the cooler parts of the day and avoid treating plants in direct sunlight or excessive heat.
4. Inspect nearby tomato plants
Aphids can move from one plant to the next, especially when tomato plants are close together. Check nearby plants during the same pass so you can catch early activity before it builds.
5. Recheck every few days
Tomato plants keep producing tender new growth throughout the season, which gives aphids fresh places to feed. Recheck every few days and repeat treatment as directed if new activity appears.
Why acting early matters: Aphids reproduce quickly, so even a small cluster can become a larger infestation if left alone. Early treatment helps protect new growth and keeps populations from building.
How to help prevent aphids on tomato plants
Prevention is less about one big action and more about keeping tomato plants strong through the growing season.
1. Encourage beneficial insects
Ladybugs, lacewings and parasitic wasps naturally feed on aphids. A diverse garden helps support these natural predators and can reduce aphid pressure over time.
2. Keep tomato plants healthy
Consistent watering, proper nutrition and timely pruning help tomato plants stay vigorous. Healthy plants are better able to recover from pest pressure and continue producing strong new growth.
Explore more
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How to get rid of aphids on indoor plants
(Learn how to identify, treat and help prevent aphids on houseplants.) -
How to get rid of aphids without harsh sprays
(Compare gentler aphid treatment methods for indoor and outdoor plants.)
