|
| I found some baby tomatoes eaten halfway through and two hornworms. I bought mesh bags at a craft store and bagged the rest of the tomatoes. Tonight I'll drench with insecticidal soap but I hate to. It says it won't harm leaves but it does. I'm too tired anymore. I think from now on I'll just do miniature plants under mesh picnic domes. Or frequent farmers markets. |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
| Deeby I'm so sorry your tomatoes got eaten, it is upsetting to go through all the work of preparing and planting and have some upstart bug get the fruits of your labors. |
|
- Posted by PlanterJeff 7B GA (My Page) on Mon, May 19, 14 at 8:35
| I don't know if the insecticidal soap will do much for the worms. I had a similar issue last year, and you are right about the soap burning leaves. I actually used Safer soap and it burned my pepper plants pretty bad and did nothing for the worms. BUT with that said, I used a heavy dose of BT and it took care of the worms within a couple days. That will not burn your leaves and targets only the worms that are eating your plant. It is to my understanding that the soap is only for soft shelled creatures as it breaks down their exoskeletons. This probably wouldn't do much to the worms. |
|
- Posted by johns.coastal.patio USDA 10b, Sunset 24 (My Page) on Mon, May 19, 14 at 11:27
| Sorry to hear. I'd go with the BT if the worms are too many find and pick off. I'm fighting by hand, but I did notice I have a little finch helping me. He hops into the bushes and turns his head, eyeing under every leaf. |
|
| I don't think soap works on worms (might smother eggs that are unhatched). I'd go BT. |
|
| Agree with Jeff and John. Skip the soap and save it for aphids and whitelflies. BT K variant is what you want -- very target specific(caterpillars), organic, and won't harm beneficials. It isn't effective on large, mature cats, but give a weekly spray for the 1st couple weeks and bi-weekly after that. Try to find the big ones and hand pick. Available at any garden center -- thuricide, dipel, and caterpillar killer are 3 names it goes by. Btw, insecticidal soap should be rinsed off after a few hours. best to apply at dusk and rinse in the morning. And like ALL pesticides, should not be applied when the temp is >80F or the sum of the temp and relative humidity is >140. If you find a hornworm that looks like it does in the link, clip leaf off and relocate. Those white eggs will emerge to more wasps to parasitize more hornworms. Kevin |
Here is a link that might be useful: parasitized hornworm
|
| To show you that insanity is alive and well in the world, I've included a link to a company that actually SELLS hornworms. Maybe those who have critters that eat hornworms could come over and inspect your gardens daily for a while, you're happy, they're happy. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Hornworms
|
| "To show you that insanity is alive and well in the world, I've included a link to a company that actually SELLS hornworms." I think it's great that some people still appreciate nature. Note that these come with their own food source! I think that hornworms are beautiful - just not when they are eating my tomato plants. I prefer to hand-pick them than to use any chemicals in my garden. Linda |
|
| Linda: BT isn't a chemical; it's a bacteria. VERY target specific and can be sprayed up until day of harvest. It's the one pesticide that remains a constant in my arsenal along with beneficial insects. Trying to find hornworms on a 12 foot tomato plant is quite the task. Hell! trying to find them on a FOUR footer is difficult! I nip it in the bud -- spray every 2-3 weeks from May on and I don't have to search for them. I agree though-- the hawk and sphinx moths are pretty cool looking. Kevin |
|
| Yes I realize that BT is "natural", but the stink is enough to put me off spraying it on my food crops! A friend had a big Sungold which had been half eaten my Hornworms last summer. We managed to find them (think of it as a puzzle!) and her daughter offered them to the chickens, but the chickens weren't interested! Linda |
|
| I still think my tomato growing days except for mini's are over. Just too much for my back anymore. |
|
| Linda, I'm surprised to hear that your friend's chickens weren't interested in the hormworms. I think mine spend their winter days dreaming about hornworm snacks to come. (And of course they've never gone lacking yet!) LOL!!! Edie |
|
- Posted by michael723 6 (My Page) on Mon, May 19, 14 at 15:39
| Hey Deeby, It's probably too late now and BT would be your best immediate option. Although for next year as preventative maintenance: |
|
| Oh Edie, You mean that my friend's chickens were unusual in not eating the hornworms? I assumed that it was because they had dined on tomato foliage which is poisonous. My goldfish didn't like hornworms either when I threw them in the pond one year! Free food is free food. Why are they so picky? Sigh! Linda |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Growing Tomatoes Forum
Information about Posting
- You must be logged in to post a message. Once you are logged in, a posting window will appear at the bottom of the messages. If you are not a member, please register for an account.
- Please review our Rules of Play before posting.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review your post, make changes and upload photos.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- Before posting copyrighted material, please read about Copyright and Fair Use.
- We have a strict no-advertising policy!
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.
Learn more about in-text links on this page here
