Tomato Growing: How To Stop Tomato Hornworms From Stealing Your Stash

Tomato Growing: How To Stop Tomato Hornworms From Stealing Your Stash

What remedies are available for tomato hornworms?

One immediate remedy is to gently pick up the hornworm and relocate it. But a solid longterm remedy is to attract a natural predator to prey on the tomato worm.

What is a natural predator of tomato hornworms? Trichogramma wasps are tiny parasites that lay eggs on the outside of a tomato hornworm. When the eggs hatch, they eat the worm.

Here's a tip: if you stumble upon a tomato worm with a bunch of rice-like attachments, leave it alone. This is the parasitic wasp getting ready to hatch and further help out your tomato plants.

You might be thinking, "Wasps! Why would I want to attract wasps?" Not to worry, these wasps are small and not scary to people.

You can naturally attract these beneficial wasps by planting parsley, fennel, dill, spearmint, or lemon balm. Be advised, some herbs, such as lemon balm or mint, can take over garden space quickly.

Here's a tip: you always have the option of sinking a pot of lemon balm or mint in the ground for containment.

How can you spot tomato hornworms? It's almost like looking at one of those optical illusion posters where you have to stare in one place until motion suddenly appears in the periphery.

If present, a tomato hornworm will be moving slowly disguised with an incredible camouflage. They look more like a 4 inch green caterpillar with about a centimeter thick body.

If you don't see one on your first glance, shift your stare to the next plant. If you don't spot any hornworms on any of your plants, maybe your tomatoes are in the clear! To be sure, check for evidence of defoliation or ground droppings.

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