Search
Latest topics
» Happy Birthday!!by AtlantaMarie Today at 7:11 am
» How best to keep a fallow SFG bed
by KiwiSFGnewbie Yesterday at 9:14 pm
» Thai Basil
by markqz Yesterday at 1:40 pm
» Preserving A Bumper Tomato Harvest with Freezing vs Canning
by plantoid Yesterday at 11:36 am
» New SFG gardener in Auckland
by sanderson Yesterday at 12:14 am
» Mark's first SFG
by sanderson 11/6/2024, 11:51 pm
» Need Garden Layout Feedback
by sanderson 11/5/2024, 2:33 pm
» What Have You Picked From Your Garden Today
by OhioGardener 11/5/2024, 2:29 pm
» Greetings from Southeastern Wisconsin
by sanderson 11/5/2024, 2:01 pm
» N & C Midwest: Nov. Dec. 2024
by Scorpio Rising 11/3/2024, 3:51 pm
» Spinning Compost Bin-need some ideas
by rtfm 11/2/2024, 7:49 pm
» Kiwi's SFG Adventure
by KiwiSFGnewbie 10/31/2024, 9:55 pm
» Growing fruit trees in Auckland
by OhioGardener 10/31/2024, 4:23 pm
» Vermiculite -- shipping sale through 10/31/2024
by markqz 10/30/2024, 2:27 pm
» N & C Midwest: October 2024
by Scorpio Rising 10/30/2024, 10:38 am
» What are you eating from your garden today?
by Scorpio Rising 10/27/2024, 10:27 pm
» Old Mulch and Closing Beds for Winter
by sanderson 10/26/2024, 11:00 pm
» Ohio Gardener's Greenhouse
by OhioGardener 10/25/2024, 7:17 pm
» Hello from Land of Umpqua, Oregon Zone 8b
by sanderson 10/25/2024, 3:14 pm
» Hello everyone!
by SFGHQSTAFF 10/24/2024, 3:22 pm
» Senior Gardeners
by sanderson 10/23/2024, 6:09 pm
» Hello from South Florida
by markqz 10/23/2024, 10:30 am
» Confirm what this is
by sanderson 10/11/2024, 2:51 pm
» Harlequin Beetles?
by sanderson 10/7/2024, 3:08 pm
» N & C Midwest: September 2024
by OhioGardener 9/30/2024, 4:13 pm
» The SFG Journey-Biowash
by OhioGardener 9/29/2024, 8:33 am
» Fall is For Garlic Planting
by Scorpio Rising 9/28/2024, 12:19 am
» source for chemical-free lanscape fabric
by Woodsong 9/19/2024, 10:51 am
» Hurricane
by sanderson 9/14/2024, 5:42 pm
» Pest Damage
by WBIowa 9/8/2024, 2:48 pm
Google
Tomatoes getting "drilled"
+6
jazzycat
CapeCoddess
walshevak
Goosegirl
sceleste54
wncsohn
10 posters
Page 1 of 1
Tomatoes getting "drilled"
I'm pretty sure it's some sort of worm getting into some of my smaller tomatoes. Anyone have any idea what I should be looking for?
Here's a pic of a small cluster of the affected tomatoes.
I'm out there in my garden every morning (before it gets hot) checking all my little plants. I've picked off a few tomato horn worms and tossed them to the chickens and I've seen a couple of small "green" catapillary worm looking bugs on my tomatoes (which also get tossed to the chickens) but am wondering if I need to look harder. I really don't want to loose too many of my maters to bugs, ya know?
Here's a pic of a small cluster of the affected tomatoes.
I'm out there in my garden every morning (before it gets hot) checking all my little plants. I've picked off a few tomato horn worms and tossed them to the chickens and I've seen a couple of small "green" catapillary worm looking bugs on my tomatoes (which also get tossed to the chickens) but am wondering if I need to look harder. I really don't want to loose too many of my maters to bugs, ya know?
wncsohn- Posts : 98
Join date : 2011-09-22
Age : 57
Location : Central AR Zone 7a
Re: Tomatoes getting "drilled"
I've had spots like that on my tomatoes. When it ripens, sometimes there will be a bad spot on the inside and sometimes there will be nothing and the tomato is fine... I think maybe its a spot where something like a stinkbug sucked some juice out but the forming tomato overcame the problem and went ahead just like normal. You just never know....
sceleste54- Posts : 382
Join date : 2010-04-08
Location : Florida Panhandle
Re: Tomatoes getting "drilled"
Possibly birds pecking. My first 2 babies of the year got pecked. Never had it happen before, and will be watching to see if I need to put netting over the rest of my maters. They pecked a volunteer. If they go after my main crop I have ways of making them disappear.....
It may help when my new neighbors move in next week. They have a Huskie that will keep the birds away and is not a garden destroyer!
GG
It may help when my new neighbors move in next week. They have a Huskie that will keep the birds away and is not a garden destroyer!
GG
Goosegirl- Posts : 3424
Join date : 2011-02-16
Age : 59
Location : Zone 4A - NE SD
Re: Tomatoes getting "drilled"
Thanks folks! I'll keep an eye on them!
wncsohn- Posts : 98
Join date : 2011-09-22
Age : 57
Location : Central AR Zone 7a
Re: Tomatoes getting "drilled"
I had to drape some tulle around some of my plants. The dang birds were pecking the maters as soon as the color started appearing.
Kay
Kay
A WEED IS A FLOWER GROWING IN THE WRONG PLACE
Elizabeth City, NC
Click for weather forecast
walshevak
Certified SFG Instructor- Posts : 4370
Join date : 2010-10-17
Age : 81
Location : wilmington, nc zone 8
Re: Tomatoes getting "drilled"
Good grief...I never knew that birds pecked tomatoes. Crud.
Not that I have any to worry about at the moment but I have hiiiiii hopes!
CC
Not that I have any to worry about at the moment but I have hiiiiii hopes!
CC
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6811
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: Tomatoes getting "drilled"
I'm having this problem as well, only I KNOW it's worms because I've caught them in the act. They are tiny green worms. One also got one of my baby melons this morning, which was distressing, because I thought I only had one (melon), then I found the second one, only to have a little worm half way inside the fruit. argh!
What do you do to battle worms? I sprayed my entire garden with garlic spray this morning. But I did that a few days ago, and they're still showing up. I must've tossed 10 or 12 tomatoes over the past few days.
Between the rain splitting my tomatoes, and now this battle with worms, I'm having a hard time keeping the faith that I can do this successfully.
Oh, and they only seem to be attacking the tomatoes/fruits in the raised beds. The ones that are in buckets, on the patio, so far are being left alone. *keeping fingers crossed*
So... any suggestions?
What do you do to battle worms? I sprayed my entire garden with garlic spray this morning. But I did that a few days ago, and they're still showing up. I must've tossed 10 or 12 tomatoes over the past few days.
Between the rain splitting my tomatoes, and now this battle with worms, I'm having a hard time keeping the faith that I can do this successfully.
Oh, and they only seem to be attacking the tomatoes/fruits in the raised beds. The ones that are in buckets, on the patio, so far are being left alone. *keeping fingers crossed*
So... any suggestions?
jazzycat- Posts : 593
Join date : 2013-03-12
Location : Savannah, GA
Re: Tomatoes getting "drilled"
jazzycat wrote:Between the rain splitting my tomatoes, and now this battle with worms, I'm having a hard time keeping the faith that I can do this successfully.
It's your first year! Every year is different and every year will present new challenges. You take each year as a learning experience and apply it to the next. Patience and HANDS ON experience.
I am my gardens worst enemy.
RoOsTeR- Posts : 4299
Join date : 2011-10-04
Location : Colorado Front Range
Re: Tomatoes getting "drilled"
Good news! I went out this morning, and not a single worm, anywhere. I don't know if it was the intense garlic spray or what, but at least for today, I feel pretty good again.
And thanks Rooster. My problem is, I have only a limited amount of energy every day. I'm the sole caretaker for my aging mother and my extremely sick, disabled sister. So it's hard having to do this on my own, with no help, in addition to all the other responsibilities I have piled on me. (I mean physical help. I get a lot of support here and I greatly appreciate that! I just wish I wasn't on my own here. It would nice if there was another person around that help with the chores. I get overwhelmed sometimes, and it comes out in frustration.)
And thanks Rooster. My problem is, I have only a limited amount of energy every day. I'm the sole caretaker for my aging mother and my extremely sick, disabled sister. So it's hard having to do this on my own, with no help, in addition to all the other responsibilities I have piled on me. (I mean physical help. I get a lot of support here and I greatly appreciate that! I just wish I wasn't on my own here. It would nice if there was another person around that help with the chores. I get overwhelmed sometimes, and it comes out in frustration.)
jazzycat- Posts : 593
Join date : 2013-03-12
Location : Savannah, GA
Re: Tomatoes getting "drilled"
Have you contacted your County Extension Service agriculture Agent about this most recent trouble?jazzycat wrote:I'm having this problem as well, only I KNOW it's worms because I've caught them in the act. They are tiny green worms. One also got one of my baby melons this morning, which was distressing, because I thought I only had one (melon), then I found the second one, only to have a little worm half way inside the fruit. argh!
What do you do to battle worms? I sprayed my entire garden with garlic spray this morning. But I did that a few days ago, and they're still showing up. I must've tossed 10 or 12 tomatoes over the past few days.
Between the rain splitting my tomatoes, and now this battle with worms, I'm having a hard time keeping the faith that I can do this successfully.
Oh, and they only seem to be attacking the tomatoes/fruits in the raised beds. The ones that are in buckets, on the patio, so far are being left alone. *keeping fingers crossed*
So... any suggestions?
43 years a gardener and going strong with SFG.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t3574-the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost
There are certain pursuits which, if not wholly poetic and true, do at least suggest a nobler and finer relation to nature than we know. The keeping of bees, for instance. ~ Henry David Thoreau
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1306-other-gardening-books
Re: Tomatoes getting "drilled"
camprn, no, because I know why they were splitting. We just had about 2 weeks straight of nonstop rain. I've been giving my tomatoes water from a self-watering bed/containers, and so the rain overwhelmed them, and they split. I just picked them and cut off the split parts, and ate them. No mystery there.
I haven't contacted them about the worms either. I thought I would see what you guys had to say about it. I believe they are fruitworms. At least, that's what they look like. And from the descriptions online at pest websites, that's what it sounds like as well, because they bore into the fruit.
I haven't contacted them about the worms either. I thought I would see what you guys had to say about it. I believe they are fruitworms. At least, that's what they look like. And from the descriptions online at pest websites, that's what it sounds like as well, because they bore into the fruit.
jazzycat- Posts : 593
Join date : 2013-03-12
Location : Savannah, GA
Re: Tomatoes getting "drilled"
I was having a lot of trouble with my tomatoes as well, one morning I got up and they were covered with tiny worms. Eating the leaves and the tomatoes! Little holes in the fruit and big holes in the leaves. I squashed the ones I saw (several dozen) and hurried off to work hoping for the best. When I got home it was worse so I reluctantly broke out the BT and sprayed. Not another worm in sight for almost two weeks now. I don't like to spray but BT is organic and safe for humans and pets. I use it sparingly and only when I can't keep up with the infestation.
lyndeeloo- Posts : 433
Join date : 2013-04-14
Location : Western Massachusetts Zone 5b
Re: Tomatoes getting "drilled"
lyndeeloo wrote: I use it sparingly and only when I can't keep up with the infestation.
Wisely
Similar topics
» Tomato not setting fruit?
» Hello, from Utah
» Dying tomato plant... bad weed cloth ?
» Gearing up for another year of fun!
» Is it possible to start tomato plants from a cutting
» Hello, from Utah
» Dying tomato plant... bad weed cloth ?
» Gearing up for another year of fun!
» Is it possible to start tomato plants from a cutting
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum