Tomato worms

Hanneke Bennett
by Hanneke Bennett
How to find them?
  13 answers
  • Anne Fitzpatrick Anne Fitzpatrick on Aug 23, 2015
    Tomato hornworms are nasty looking...on our plants they ate they way down starting from the top munching on the leaves, you have to have a keen eye because they are hard to see, Good Luck!
  • Suzette Trimmer Suzette Trimmer on Aug 23, 2015
    To always and forever avoid these worms all you need do is plant marigolds in and along all or any tomato plant. The sent from the marigold offends them so much that this simple act alone has worked everytime and for anyone I shared this tip with. Try it you'll be amazed. Also just for the heck of it while planting your tomato plants along with a marigold with each also plant Basil right next to your tomato.The Reason I do this is as the growing season passes by the tomato somehow develops the basil taste right into the tomato itself. Your Tomato's will be the ones all your neighbors want so watch who you spread this information to.Good luck hope this sincerely helps you and your crop of tomatoes, if not this year you're ready for next year.
  • Hanneke Bennett Hanneke Bennett on Aug 23, 2015
    Thanks for your help! I love the marigold and basil idea! It will look pretty, too!🌼🌼🌼
  • Tam Castro Tam Castro on Aug 23, 2015
    dig with your fingers around the plant root.. they hind just below the soil... feeding at dust and dark,, so birds don't get them..there brown,, kind the size of small macaroni.. they will be curled up too...
  • Susan Franklin Susan Franklin on Aug 23, 2015
    I look for the round pellet poop and look straight up from there...they poop as they eat. Also, a black light shined on your plants make them look like they are glowing green and are easier to spot then. Remember if they have "egg sacks" on their backs.....leave them so the wasp that kill them will hatch out.
  • Hanneke Bennett Hanneke Bennett on Aug 24, 2015
    Thanks,Tam! The kind I'm looking for are bright green but maybe are brown at some point!
  • Hanneke Bennett Hanneke Bennett on Aug 24, 2015
    Very helpful tips! Have to find myself a black light! Thanks, Susan!
  • Hanneke Bennett Hanneke Bennett on Aug 24, 2015
    Thanks! I've been looking and looking and they must be HUGE by now, looking at what's left of my nice plant! A lady suggested using a black light and I might try that!
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Aug 24, 2015
    Horn worms hide along the stems of the plants. Try using the tomato dust at night to bring the worms under control.
  • Susan Franklin Susan Franklin on Aug 24, 2015
    They are easy to pick off and I'd try to find them before using dust. Just find the poop and look above it with the black light. They are generally on the stems. Birds love them so encourage birds to help reduce in the future. I always cut them and toss them near the plants to encourage birds to come eat any I missed.
  • Hanneke Bennett Hanneke Bennett on Aug 24, 2015
    Thanks, Susan. Of course there's poop everywhere so that doesn't help very much! I'm getting a blacklight and guess I'll have to go out in the dark so I can catch them! Good idea to toss them out for the birds, after they're dead, of course. I don't think I have the guts to cut them up!
  • Rosemary McMeekin Rosemary McMeekin on Aug 24, 2015
    I have been told the tomato horn worm is not bad. But the year I had them they ate all the leaves on the plants. They say bees ( can not remember what kind) lay there eggs on them. The babies feed off of them. Not sure if this is true. But I would look for there poop remove. Remove the worms also. I found that planting the tomato to close together was when I got them. Mine were in a raised bed 16'x4'x12 high.
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Aug 24, 2015
    tomato horn worms are bad they eat not only the plant but the tomatoes to.Ever notice holes in tomatoes?