Search
Latest topics
» Ohio Gardener's Greenhouseby OhioGardener 9/5/2024, 6:37 pm
» What are you eating from your garden today?
by OhioGardener 9/5/2024, 2:01 pm
» adding compost yearly
by sanderson 9/5/2024, 2:16 am
» N & C Midwest: September 2024
by Scorpio Rising 9/4/2024, 9:30 am
» What Have You Picked From Your Garden Today
by OhioGardener 9/2/2024, 3:10 pm
» N & C Midwest: August 2024
by OhioGardener 8/31/2024, 8:13 pm
» Spinning Compost Bin-need some ideas
by middlemamma 8/30/2024, 2:04 am
» Article - Create a Seed Library to Share the Extras
by OhioGardener 8/26/2024, 4:09 pm
» Happy Birthday!!
by Scorpio Rising 8/23/2024, 8:13 pm
» Best Tasting Parthenocarpic Cucumber?
by SMEDLEY BUTLER 8/21/2024, 7:07 pm
» Pest Damage
by SMEDLEY BUTLER 8/21/2024, 11:24 am
» Winter Squash Arch
by SMEDLEY BUTLER 8/21/2024, 8:02 am
» Master Gardeners: Growing Your Own Blueberries
by OhioGardener 8/19/2024, 10:09 am
» Looking for a local source for transplants.... Sarasota, FL
by sanderson 8/19/2024, 3:26 am
» Hi, y'all. I'm new to everything in Sarasota, FL
by sanderson 8/19/2024, 3:21 am
» Starbucks for coffee grounds!
by OhioGardener 8/14/2024, 5:47 pm
» Hi from N. Georgia
by AtlantaMarie 8/13/2024, 8:57 am
» Hello from Atlanta, Georgia
by sanderson 8/13/2024, 3:09 am
» growing tomatoes from seed outside
by sanderson 8/13/2024, 3:05 am
» 15-Minute Garlic Sautéed Eggplant
by Scorpio Rising 8/12/2024, 7:25 pm
» Downsizing Gardens for the Autumn of our lives
by Hollysmac 8/6/2024, 10:37 pm
» Golden Beets
by Scorpio Rising 8/6/2024, 7:03 pm
» Hi all!
by sanderson 8/6/2024, 12:56 am
» DIY Tomato Trellis for Birdie's Tall Raised beds
by sanderson 8/6/2024, 12:48 am
» Got zucchini? Toot your own horn!
by OhioGardener 8/5/2024, 9:17 am
» Compost not hot
by Aintyergrandpaschickenpoo 8/5/2024, 8:29 am
» N&C Midwest—July 2024
by nrstooge 8/1/2024, 6:57 am
» Zucchini Cobbler
by sanderson 7/25/2024, 11:38 pm
» Vertical Zucchini
by sanderson 7/25/2024, 11:34 pm
» Cover Crops to Kill Nematodes
by dstack 7/18/2024, 5:43 pm
Google
It's not chipmunks, it's tomato hornworm,
4 posters
Page 1 of 1
It's not chipmunks, it's tomato hornworm,
I was blaming the chipmunks for tomato damage but today when I checked my plants there was too much damage for one or two chippies to manage. As I was reaching under some leaves to pick off a damaged green tomato, I felt something soft against my hand. When I lifted the leaves, Ugh, a huge green tomato hornworm.
I pulled it off and squashed with a paper towel. It was horrid, the squishy stuff that squished from that body.
I had entire branches gone. Chopped off cleanly at the stem. One of my Brandwines was a skeleton.
Hunting brought down at least ten of those green, soft bodies, each one from 3 to over 4 inches in length.
I shall have to do this a couple times a day to be sure I get some of my tomato harvest this year. I've had 4 plants severely damaged already and almost two dozen almost-ripe tomatoes relegated to the compost heap from damage.
There's little that can be done safely except picking off by hand.
Tomorrow, I'll go out with a jar of soapy water to drown them instead of squishing. My stomach can't take that again.
So if you have tomato branches disappearing with only clean-cut stems left, look carefully under leaves and along stems for a long green caterpillar-like tomato hornworm.
I pulled it off and squashed with a paper towel. It was horrid, the squishy stuff that squished from that body.
I had entire branches gone. Chopped off cleanly at the stem. One of my Brandwines was a skeleton.
Hunting brought down at least ten of those green, soft bodies, each one from 3 to over 4 inches in length.
I shall have to do this a couple times a day to be sure I get some of my tomato harvest this year. I've had 4 plants severely damaged already and almost two dozen almost-ripe tomatoes relegated to the compost heap from damage.
There's little that can be done safely except picking off by hand.
Tomorrow, I'll go out with a jar of soapy water to drown them instead of squishing. My stomach can't take that again.
So if you have tomato branches disappearing with only clean-cut stems left, look carefully under leaves and along stems for a long green caterpillar-like tomato hornworm.
quiltbea-
Posts : 4707
Join date : 2010-03-21
Age : 82
Location : Southwestern Maine Zone 5A
Re: It's not chipmunks, it's tomato hornworm,
UGH!!! GUTTED! I have been there, so sorry about that. It's really amazing how fast those critters can decimate your tomato, eggplant and pepper plants.
Re: It's not chipmunks, it's tomato hornworm,
BT works on them and is safe for bees and other beneficial insects. I didn't have that many, but had quite a few. I moved mine to a sacrificial tomato plant in the ornamental garden as I love watching the hummingbird moths they turn into. Hand picking is the best and once you get used to watching for them, is easy. Watch the base of the plant for their poop--very easy to see.
Retired Member 1-
Posts : 904
Join date : 2010-03-03
Location : USA
Re: It's not chipmunks, it's tomato hornworm,
I found another huge one when I went to take my kitchen scraps to the compost pile. I thought I got them all, but they are devious. Their color blends too well with the tomato plants.
I'll be out early again tomorrow hunting.
I'll be out early again tomorrow hunting.
quiltbea-
Posts : 4707
Join date : 2010-03-21
Age : 82
Location : Southwestern Maine Zone 5A
Re: It's not chipmunks, it's tomato hornworm,
I feel your pain, quiltbea. The little monsters ate about half of my beatiful Jet Star tomato plant, and ruined half a dozen ripening fruits before I found them and pulled them off. Blech..
The Cat's Other Mother-
Posts : 146
Join date : 2010-05-17
Location : Decatur, GA, Zone 7B
![-](https://2img.net/i/empty.gif)
» The SFG journey-Tomato Hornworm
» chipmunks
» Chipmunk Problem
» Getting rid of chipmunk in the garden
» Those durn chipmunks!
» chipmunks
» Chipmunk Problem
» Getting rid of chipmunk in the garden
» Those durn chipmunks!
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
|
|