Hornworm and tomatoes

[Carol Dee]

I know now how to combat the hornworm next garden season. The tomatoes left are all going to the hornworm. The plants are destroyed and all the fruit has been chewed on. My question is, what do we do now? Pull all the plants and compost? Burn off the plant material? Will they return this bad immediately next year if we plant in the same place? We have had tomaotes before with hardly any worms. Was is just a bad year? (I did tell DH he put too many plants too close. I could never walk in without stepping on plants especially after the flimsy wire cages fell over.) So I was unable to get to plants and check for pests like we should have. Next year I will do better, I hope. :tools

 

[hoodat]

Some years are worse for them than others. I doubt planting in a different place will do much good on horn worms. The sphinx moth that lays the egs can fly a long ways. Injury to the plants will release the smell and let them know where to find them.

 

[momofdrew]

never plant the same thing in the same place year after year that is asking for more pests and problems... the hornworm when ready borrow into the soil and winters over in the cacoon{sp] and emerges at some point in spring or early summer and looks for more tomatoes...

 

[Carol Dee]

never plant the same thing in the same place year after year that is asking for more pests and problems... the hornworm when ready borrow into the soil and winters over in the cacoon{sp] and emerges at some point in spring or early summer and looks for more tomatoes...

Well @#%# this was a brand new spot for the tomatoes. Never had a problem like this in the old bed

 

[SweetMissDaisy]

You need ducks, Carol Dee!

 

[Smiles Jr.]

You need ducks, Carol Dee!

Ha! I was thinking the same thing. Our chickens free range and, even though they do some damage in the garden, they have done a wonderful job of keeping our gardens bug free. I have sat in on a bench numerous times and watched the chickens do their job each morning and evening. They pick every last bug off the ground as well as off the plants. In anticipation of the chicken damage I usually plant a few extra of their favorites and we all get along just fine. I figure I can offer the chickens a veggie treat in exchange for their services. I also use food grade DE on and around the plants in the garden. For us bug problems in the garden are a thing of the past. I must admit that I do use some chicken wire around the tomato plants in the early part of the season. As soon as a tomato starts to show the slightest sign of turning red the chickens eat it. So after the lower tomatoes are harvested the upper tomatoes are pretty safe.