Tomato Hornworms can be a nightmare to see on your tomato plants! They can decimate a tomato plant in no time at all so it’s important to try and prevent these as much as possible!
Hang out with Carrie to learn more about how to go about preventing and managing these pests in your garden!
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Hey everybody. It’s Carrie with seed to spoon. So I am out here by one of our tomatoes back here that got viciously attacked by a tomato horn worm. So today I thought I would talk about a few key things that you can do to help both prevent the tomato horn worm, and then go about treating it.
So this poor Roma tomato that we have back here, it was thriving and doing absolutely incredible. And then this tomato horn came on and viciously started attacking it. and it ate so much of the foliage and pretty much within a day, it was pretty devastated as you can see. And it does a lot of damage really quick, and you would be so surprised by how these huge caterpillars can blend right into the leaves.
It is amazing. So unless you have a whole bunch of different tomatoes planted and you have plenty to feed them also, you’ll definitely be wanting to go about making sure to prevent these tomato horn worms from entering into your garden. The key thing as with any pest is going to be prevention and companion planting works wonders for the tomato horn room, and it’ll be no shock to you that my favorite companion for tomatoes are the basil plants.
Any variety of basil does wonders to help repel the tomato horn worm. So basil is always gonna be one of your number one go-to things to be planting around your tomatoes. Unfortunately, this one was in its own individual pot, so I didn’t have space to do a companion plant with it or else I would’ve definitely done that, but Basil’s gonna be one of your top ones.
Marigold is also another really good one along with calendula. And then also things like dill can really help also. And I made a video all about companion planting for your tomato plants. So make sure to check that out because it’ll help with more than more pests than just the tomato horn worm. But those are the key plants that you wanna keep in mind if you are trying to repel that tomato horn worm.
So pretty much once you find it. Well, the key things to be looking for are of course, as you can see, like these leaves that. Missing, they are gone eaten. You might see some little pieces of black poo, which are pretty large, believe me, because these caterpillars are, are very large and you wanna be looking for that.
And then that’ll tell you that you have a tomato horn worm. So start looking through the foliage, start finding it. And once you find it, You’ll have to go through and hand pick it. So if you’re anything like me, it can be a little terrifying because they look so menacing. But trust me, they are not, they look like they have like this little stinger thing on the back, which looks really frightening, but it can’t hurt you.
But what, anyways, I always put on gloves or I use like a piece of wood or something like that to get ’em off of the leave. Then at that point, you can either place him in some soapy water or relocate him, or you can give your chickens a very great snack, which is what we do. Our chickens. Absolutely love the tomato.
Hornworms. There’s also a spray called BTK that you can use to get rid of these caterpillars. And it works for not just these caterpillars, but any sort of caterpillar issue that you have going on in your garden. And it’ll only affect the caterpillars. So you don’t have to worry about any of your beneficials.
So, what I do is you can mix this into a spray form and spray it, and it works wonders against any sort of caterpillar that are damaging your plant and make sure you check it out in our app. We have a section just for pests and under tomato. Hornworms, you’ll see the BTK listed there and it’ll actually give you a link to buy it from there.
Also, another thing that you can do as well is lay down some DiUS earth and this can help to repel any sort of caterpillar activity as. And also, if you haven’t already make sure you download our free app from seed to spoon under there, there’s a pest section and it’ll go over all of the different, most common pests that you’ll see in the garden, including the tomato hornworm and it’ll go through some of the things we talked about today as well, and give you some key ideas and ways to go about organic methods of treating.
Let me know if you guys have any other questions and I will be happy to help in happy hunting for that tomato horn worm.
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Carrie Spoonemore, co-founder of “From Seed to Spoon,” stands as a beacon of inspiration for gardeners and health enthusiasts alike. Her journey alongside her husband, Dale Spoonemore, in creating a platform that demystifies gardening and promotes a healthier lifestyle, has made a significant impact on individuals around the globe. Through the “From Seed to Spoon” app, Carrie has dedicated herself to empowering people to take control of their health and environment by growing their own food.
With a profound belief in the power of gardening to improve mental and physical health, Carrie’s contributions to the Seed to Spoon blog reflect her holistic approach to wellness. Her articles often focus on the nutritional benefits of homegrown fruits and vegetables, organic gardening practices, and the mental health benefits of spending time in nature. Carrie’s expertise in health science shines through in her detailed discussions on how specific plants can contribute to a balanced diet and overall well-being.
Carrie’s passion for gardening is deeply intertwined with her commitment to family and community wellness. She frequently shares personal stories of how gardening has brought her family closer together, offering practical tips for involving children in gardening activities and making it a fun, educational experience. Her writing encourages families to explore gardening as a means of spending quality time together while learning about nature and sustainability.
In addition to gardening advice, Carrie’s contributions to the blog include insights into the use of technology to enhance the gardening experience. She has played a crucial role in designing the “From Seed to Spoon” app to be user-friendly, ensuring that users of all ages and backgrounds can navigate the complexities of gardening with ease. Her vision for the app is not just as a gardening tool but as a vehicle for change, inspiring individuals to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle by growing their own food.
Carrie Spoonemore’s presence on the blog is marked by her compassionate approach to teaching and her unwavering belief in the transformative power of gardening. Her work continues to inspire a community of gardeners to pursue a healthier, more sustainable way of living, proving that with the right tools and knowledge, anyone can become a gardener and advocate for their health and the planet.
