Dang Caterpillars

john in la · Apr 29, 2017

I do not know if the pictures will show it but the dang hornworm caterpillars attacked my tomato plants while I was busy and did not notice.

Picked off and killed all I could find.
At least it is early in the season so the plants will grow back.
Peppers are looking a lot better as the catipllar does not like them.

Donald Lehman · Apr 29, 2017

We are about 3 weeks away from even thinking about planting tomatoes yet.

44 massey · Apr 29, 2017

They are predicting 3-8 inches snow here early Sunday thru early Monday!!! Garden is tilled and plants are in the shop!!! Don't think will be setting them out for a week or two!!!!

rrman61 · Apr 29, 2017

Pushing 90 down here SW La.

john in la · Apr 29, 2017

We can forget "pushing" for this year.
Picture taken Friday afternoon while at work in Metairie

David G · Apr 29, 2017

No plants out here in Eastern Iowa, probably at least a week from safe.

I like your idea about planting in buckets.

Dblair · Apr 29, 2017

nothing like those tomatoes till July in central Va. they sure look good .

john in la · Apr 29, 2017

These plants will most likely be dead by July.
Gets to hot here for them to set fruit by then.

In fact we plant our fall crop of tomatoes 7/1 to 8/15 using transplants.

john in la · Apr 29, 2017

The buckets allow me to start early without fear of frost damage.
Most years I do not have to bother but for that one year we have a late frost I just move the young plants on my back porch for a night or two.
The problem with buckets is you have to water so often.
Even if it rains the buckets get very little water in them.

2x4 · Apr 30, 2017

when life gives you caterpillars, go fishin'.

Billy NY · Apr 30, 2017

They are nocturnal, turn the lights on at night and remove all you see. They can be eradicated that way. In the day time, they will be under the plant leaves somewhere. I discovered them one year in my small patch next to the house, just turned on the floodlights and removed every single one. If you find any with small white felt like insect eggs on them, those are wasp eggs that will consume the host, beneficial wasps, those I try to relocate. Fall tillage breaks the cycle or is supposed to around here, soil disturbance won't allow the next generation to survive the winter. Not sure if that works where you don't have cold winter temperatures.

pete black · Apr 30, 2017

In nw al they are more readily found during the day light hours preferably late afternoon. I locate them by looking for fresh dark green excrement, the hornworm typically will be just above it. Destructive little pests though.

john in la · Apr 30, 2017

Never tried it but I have heard that you can find them with a black light as they glow under the right light source.

bass · Apr 30, 2017

i feel ya..... i had a bad infestation of Colorado tater beetles until i got after them with 57% malathion. no beetles now

a view after i sprayed them

if i don't use some kind of chemical control, i won't have a garden
bass

Fleeter · Apr 30, 2017

I heard about the black light as well.
I tried it a few years ago - didn't work for me.
My kids still rib me about wandering around the garden at night with a black light.

Dang Caterpillars

john in la

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Donald Lehman

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44 massey

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rrman61

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john in la

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David G

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Dblair

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john in la

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john in la

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2x4

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Billy NY

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pete black

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john in la

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bass

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Fleeter

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