PEST CONTROL

INDOOR food crops — such as tomato and cucumber — are vulnerable to pests.

The worst and most common are glasshouse whitefly and red spider mite.

Both can weaken crops and reduce yields. Biological control is best, but specific predators are needed for each pest. Predatory mite Phytoseiulus attacks red spider, while tiny wasp Encarsia will reduce whitefly.

You can buy both online. Never use pesticides with predators — they’ll perish, too.

Growing Tagetes, French marigolds, among tomatoes will reduce whitefly.