Perth gardeners urged to halt pest spread

Perth home vegetable growers are being urged to not move certain plants to prevent the spread of a destructive pest.

The Department of Agriculture and Food announced on Monday that residents in the Perth metropolitan area who grow potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, capsicum, chilli, tamarillo and sweet potato should not take the vegetables out of the city area.

The tomato potato psyllid, was found in Australia for the first time in February in Perth, and has since been found at more than 60 properties and caused a halt potato exports from WA.