skip to main content

Florida Gardening

Tomato Horn Worm War!

15 years ago

I am at war with the horn warm and they are winning. Morning and night for the past few days I have been visiting the plants and removing by hand eggs and mini-worms. But they keep on coming. I think I clear an area, and the next check they are back.

My local nursery does not carry "bt" and could not find it at lowes, will check sears next. This is the second time I am growing tomatos and last year I did not have this problem.

Is their something else I can do?

"Sergeant the worms have flanked us, attack, attack... It is futile...."

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

minibim
15 years ago
Not sure if "bt" is sold as "bt", usually it has a name like Thuricide. I do know HD has it.
tomncath
15 years ago
Hi, minibim's right. HD carries it in an 8oz bottle under the name Thuricide, put out by Southern Ag. Just so you know what your looking for the bottle looks like the ones in the link below, and here's the spec sheet.

Here is a link that might be useful: What you're looking for
Related Discussions
Tomato Horn Worms
Q
Comments (37)
WOW! I am so glad that I found this forum! I live in Augusta, GA and visited my Dad in Clay Co, AL this past week. We were looking at his tomato plants and found 2 tomato worms, which had the parasitic cocoons on them. I picked the worms off the plants and brushed the cocoons off of them. Dad wanted to squish them, but I said that I was going to take them home and raise them and teach our 4 year old son about metamorphosis. I wasn't sure about how to go about keeping them, UNTIL I found this forum! We cut alot of leaves and stalks for them to chew on until I can get a plant for them to live on. They are about 2 inches long, and fat. I had no idea that they bury themselves in dirt to go into their pupa state. SO again I am glad I started researching and found this forum. I was kinda bummed that we won't be able to watch them form cocoons but I am happy to know that they will turn into these particular moths, which I didn't know what they turned into before. So with that, I am wondering how will I know when they will go into the dirt, I am planning on putting them in the fridge while they are in the dirt so they won't come out to early and die. My only other issue is going to be we are moving in Missouri in late March early April and I am wondering if they will survive the move? Is there anything I should do to protect them during the move? When should I expect them to be ready to make their grand appearance? This is the 1st time ever doing this.So an extra pointers are welcome! ALSO I had read that some of you had the caterpillars with the parasites on them and you left them alone. Do you think mine will be OK since I took them off? Thanks! Kim
...See More
tomato horn worm
Q
Comments (6)
I love them but I pick them off desirable plants and put them on tomatoes that I grow specifically for them. The only hornworm that I don't like are the catalpa worms and that's because I get them by the hundreds, maybe thousands, yuck!
...See More
Tomato Horn Worms! GRR...
Q
Comments (7)
The moth is pretty cool, that these become. I've seen them flying around flowers, like a hummingbird. I pick the worms off and let the kids torture them for a while. But if they get away from the kids, they end up back on my tomatoes. I have grown sacrificial plants for the captured worms, but the worms know and leave the plant! I have never allowed the worms to stay on my plant long enough for the wasp larvae to hatch. It seems like the whole plant could be destroyed by then. And in my small garden, I may have only one plant per variety. I think that the eggs are laid in the fall and hatch in the spring. The worms start out tiny and grow quickly. I have tried companion planting, and have borage, marigolds and calendula readily reseed near my tomatoes. I still end up with hornworms.
...See More
Horned tomatoe worms
Q
Comments (3)
Hornworms require their particular host plant to feed upon. Tobacco/tomato hornworms feed on plants within the Solanaceae family: tomatoes, tobacco, potatoes, eggplant, even petunias! I hand pluck them and toss them into the bird bath, where birds will find them and put them to 'good' use. Taking them to the woods is probably a waste of a perfectly good caterpillar, though something will probably eat it.
...See More
linchat
Original Author
15 years ago
Great, just got back from lowes and I could not find anything with BT. Will try to make my way to HD tonight. Thanks.
tomncath
15 years ago
If I can give you a little advice, if you find holes in ANY of your maters mix a full gallon in a garden sprayer and spray them all. Also, if your growing cukes you'll need to do the same thing at first sign of any worms and make sure you douse the small new-growth leaves and buds well. AND, for squash you can't wait until you see them, a maintenance program of spraying at least twice a week, especially on the male flowers will improve your success with fruit production.

Disclaimer - lots of folks here love cats and so do I. I put the flowers in the front yard for them and grow the veggies in the back yard. In our hot humid environment I can't control the cats in the veggies w/o doing it this way so it a necessary evil...don't hate me for wanting a decent yield with my veggie crops.

Tom
linchat
Original Author
15 years ago
Success! Found it at home depot. Then today I found it at the nursery where I tried the first time, the guy there said they did not sell it, ugh!

I should spray once a week?
tomncath
15 years ago
For maters, spray at the first sign of ANY holes in the leaves. Same for cukes, and get the new growth really well because that's where they hide and you can't see them until after you spray, but by the next day you'll sure see them laying around as they're dying. Squash, maintenance twice a week, spray the male flowers well and when the male flowers start to wilt cut them off and discard immediately.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Ways to Naturally Win the Weed War

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Show irksome weeds no mercy with these tricks for combating them sans chemicals

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 15 Great Ideas for a Lawn-Free Yard

By Laura Gaskill

End the turf war for good with hardscaping, native grasses and ground covers that save water and are easier to maintain

EDIBLE GARDENS A Formerly Weedy Lot Now Brims With Edibles and Honeybees

By Mitchell Parker

Photographers transform their barren backyard into an oasis filled with fruit, vegetables, honey, eggs and more

FEEL-GOOD HOME 21 Ways to Waste Less at Home

Whether it's herbs rotting in the fridge or clothes that never get worn, most of us waste too much. Here are ways to make a change

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow Your Own Sweet Summer Crops

By Marianne Lipanovich

This guide will help any gardener get started on growing the freshest warm-season veggies and berries for summer

LIFE Slow Living 101: Tips for Turning Off the Chaos

By Laura Gaskill

It may feel as though you're too busy to slow down and enjoy life. But even little changes can have a big effect

LIFE How to Outsmart Backyard Critters

By Tiffany Carboni

Learn to think like a raccoon, skunk or squirrel to keep your home safe and your garden intact

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Easy Edibles for First-Time Gardeners

By Marianne Lipanovich

Focus on these beginner-friendly vegetables, herbs, beans and salad greens to start a home farm with little fuss

FALL GARDENING 7 Reasons Not to Clean Up Your Fall Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Before you pluck and rake, consider wildlife, the health of your plants and your own right to relax

MOST POPULAR Easy Green: 23 Ways to Reduce Waste at Home

By Laura Gaskill

Pick from this plethora of earth-friendly ideas to send less to the landfill and keep more money in your pocket

Sponsored

More Discussions

2024 January : upload your photos of first blooms of season

19

Rats in the garden ID?

6

Garden plans for 2024?

6

Greening Satsuma

2

Leaving my final garden

1