This weed saves tomatoes from late blight, but 90% of summer residents rush to pull it out: they make a fatal mistake

Do your tomatoes get black spots every year despite tons of chemicals?

Perhaps you are destroying their main protector, the woodlouse, with your own hands.

German scientists from the Institute of Plant Science have proven that this weed secretes saponins, substances that suppress the fungus Phytophthora infestans, the causative agent of late blight.

Just leave woodlice under the bushes, and they will become a living shield for your crop.

Summer resident Viktor from Voronezh shared his experience: "Before, by August, all the leaves would turn black. Now the tomatoes are green until the frosts, and the neighbors ask what super-spray I use!"

Woodlice work in several directions at once. Its dense carpet retains moisture, reducing watering by 2-3 times. When decomposing, the weed leaves saturate the soil with potassium and magnesium - elements critical for the immunity of tomatoes.

Another bonus: woodlice attract lacewings, predatory insects that destroy aphid colonies within a week.

But most importantly, it doesn’t give late blight a chance. A 2023 study published in the Journal of Organic Farming confirmed that in areas with woodlice, the risk of infection is reduced by 80%.

For maximum effect, agronomist Maria Vorontsova recommends enhancing protection with woodlice infusion.

Grind 500 g of greens, pour 3 liters of water, leave for 24 hours, strain and spray tomatoes. Add 1 tbsp. baking soda per 10 liters of solution - the alkaline environment will kill off any remaining fungal spores.

But remember: woodlice are the heroine mother of the plant world. One plant produces up to 15,000 seeds per season. To prevent the weed from taking over the garden, pick off the tops every 2 weeks, not letting them bloom.

On sandy soils, woodlice can compete with tomatoes for moisture. In this case, mulch the beds with straw or mown grass. These materials will not only retain water, but will also become an additional source of organic matter. If there is no woodlice on the site, bring them from the forest - they will take root even in the cracks between the tiles.

Warning: the method does not work in greenhouses with high humidity. There, the woodlouse turns into an aggressor, causing root rot. But in open ground, it is an ideal ally. Try it – and late blight will remain only a terrible memory.