Starting again after THRIPS and tomato spotted wilt

[solar flick]

So, I've just discovered a major infestation of THRIPS has taken over my tomatoes, chillis, and bell peppers, and I've now got 30-odd very poorly plants. Tomato spotted wilt virus has ravaged my small crop - just as they were flowering and fruiting.

Gutted. :(

I've begun the sad task of throwing out all my plants.

I basically need to know what to do now?

Do I throw away the soil and get new? (I have containers). Will new containers in the same location get a re-infestation? Should I take some measures to prevent a future crop from being infested too?

Any practical advice, please.

[Roy]

A fairly comprehensive fact sheet for control can be found here:

luck...you're going to need it.

[Frank]

I'm in a similar virus situation with my tomatoes and fungicide will not keep in check. Next season I'm going to empty old soil, wash pots with bleach and try new soil.

I had discussed this problem with a guy up the road that maybe has an acre of tomato plants and a roadside stand and he said that is the only solution. He had gotten this advise from the agricultural extension at our local university.

[songbird]

where are you at?

what were the growing conditions like recently?

songbird