As if blight, canker and drought aren't enough...

LMinAL · June 24, 2014

Now I do believe I have a thief in my garden. First tomatoes just starting to blush and I walk outside to the following crime scene beneath my Black Prince:

Does this look like critter or hornworm damage? I haven't had a hornworm problem in the past, so it's my first year dealing with them. The only animals I've seen around here (I live in the city) are birds, squirrels, rodents and opossums. These were the tomatoes on the lowest branches of the plant.

Which leads to the question - I have a Boxcar Willie and Cherokee Purple that are blushing. Should I pick them to ripen indoors or try to protect them outside? I usually try to let tomatoes get a little riper than this before bringing them in.

If it's a critter, it is about to be Fort Knox around that bed. I also have a Havahart trap I can set if necessary. If it's hornworms, I'll likely use spinosad tonight after the bees go to bed. I try not to spray for pests for the most part, but I will if it gets to a critical point. (Like eating my tomatoes!)

Laura

June 24, 2014	#1
LMinAL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 46	As if blight, canker and drought aren't enough... Now I do believe I have a thief in my garden. First tomatoes just starting to blush and I walk outside to the following crime scene beneath my Black Prince: Does this look like critter or hornworm damage? I haven't had a hornworm problem in the past, so it's my first year dealing with them. The only animals I've seen around here (I live in the city) are birds, squirrels, rodents and opossums. These were the tomatoes on the lowest branches of the plant. Which leads to the question - I have a Boxcar Willie and Cherokee Purple that are blushing. Should I pick them to ripen indoors or try to protect them outside? I usually try to let tomatoes get a little riper than this before bringing them in. If it's a critter, it is about to be Fort Knox around that bed. I also have a Havahart trap I can set if necessary. If it's hornworms, I'll likely use spinosad tonight after the bees go to bed. I try not to spray for pests for the most part, but I will if it gets to a critical point. (Like eating my tomatoes!) Laura