Eliminating Tomato Hornworms Permanently: A Comprehensive Guide
Chillin' in Your Veggie Plot? If you're cultivating juicy tomatoes this summer, you gotta watch out for those tomato hornworms. They're the thorns in your side, the sentinels of dread, the nightmares of the garden world. These little striped terrors destroy your hard-earned crops, munching on the leaves, fruit, and flowers of your tomatoes (and sometimes other nightshades) before they reach maturity. But don't fret, we've got your back with some all-natural ways to tackle these garden nightmares, leaving a hornworm-free, fruitful veggie oasis in your plot.
Let's hear it for our experts in the field, Damon Abdi, assistant professor of landscape horticulture at Louisiana State University AgCenter, and Ankit K. Singh, assistant professor of sustainable agriculture at the University of Maine. These knowledgeable dudes are gonna school us on their tailoring techniques for tailoring-off those tomato hornworms once and for all.
So, Who the Heck are Tomato Hornworms, Anyway? Tomato hornworms (the larvae of the five-spotted hawk moth) are the culprits that wreck havoc on your tomato plants. "Adult moths lay eggs on the leaves, hatching into the caterpillars causing your green crops to go down the green mile," says Damon Abdi. "Eventually, these caterpillars reach their next stage in the life cycle, burrowing into the soil and becoming pupae for the next generation." Don't let 'em get away, or your rewards will be anything but sweet.
You can spot these green critters by their chonky bodies, adorned with white stripes and a tail-like horn at the rear (but don't worry, it ain't dangerous). Mature hornworms can reach lengths of 4 inches, says Ankit K. Singh.
Signs of an Infestation? I Think I See Some! Worried that your plants got a new best friend? Keep an eye out for chewed or missing foliage and fruits, as well as their green or black droppings on the ground. The hornworms blend in with the foliage, making them tricky to spot, but signs of damage or droppings can help find 'em.
Let's Dance (Away from Hornworms!)! Now that you know what you're up against, it's time to take action. Here are a few moves that'll keep your tomato-growing dreams (and nightmares) at bay:
Trap Them with (Dill) Skills
Plant some dill or borage as trap crops to lure the moths away from your tomatoes. "Diversifying your plantings can also increase biodiversity, welcoming helpful critters like lady beetles," says Damon Abdi.
Change Your Tomato's Dance Partners
Avoid planting the same crop in the same spot every year to disrupt the pest's lifecycle. "This reduces pest and disease issues and improves the soil structure and health," says Ankit K. Singh.
Cover Your Tomatoes with Row Covers
Cover your plants with row covers to stop moths from reaching your precious tomatoes, putting a damper on saccharine pop ballads playing in your garden.
Rumble in the Soil
Tilling the soil in the fall and spring can expose pupae lying dormant in the soil. "Tilling is a great way to disturb them physically or expose them to the environment, preventing future generations," explains Damon Abdi.
Embrace the Hornworms That Got Away
Some hornworms become hosts to braconid wasps. "Watch as the wasps lay eggs on the back of the hornworm, and the hornworm meets its demise upon emergence," suggests Damon Abdi.
The Hornworm Invasion: Complete Annihilation If you got hornworms given you no choice but to stomp 'em out, consider these moves:
Mano a Hornworm
Manual labor is your friend here. If you quickly inspect your plants, you can pick off the hornworms by hand, dropping them into a bucket of soapy water.
Let the Bacillus Flow
"Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) is a naturally occurring bacteria that can be formulated into a spray to control caterpillars," says Damon Abdi.
DIY Homemade Hornworm Repellent
For lighter infestations, mix garlic, cayenne pepper, dish soap, and water to create a homemade spray. Spray the mixture on the foliage, perform a test spray on one leaf for damage control.
Captain Diatomaceous Earth to the Rescue
This fine powder dehydrates insects, making it harder for hornworms to survive. Sprinkle it on your stems, leaves, and around the plant base. It'll leave a barrier of death for those creepy crawlers.
Sources:
- Garden Myths
- Louisiana State University AgCenter
- University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
- National Pesticide Information Center
To create a more diverse and healthy garden, consider planting dill or borage as trap crops, as suggested by Damon Abdi, to lure tomato hornworms away from your vegetable garden ideas.Following Ankit K. Singh's advice, you can prevent tomato hornworm infestations by varying the placement of tomato plants each year in your home-and-garden.*When necessary, Damon Abdi recommends using manual labor to remove hornworms by hand from your garden and placing them in soapy water for effective control. This practice can be part of a comprehensive gardening lifestyle to maintain a productive veggie oasis that Martha Stewart would be proud of.
