Varmints!

lakelady · July 28, 2012

I'm borderline depressed. lol

Yesterday, I found those ugly little tomato worms living inside about 7 tomatoes! They seem to like the plants with the dense foliage best. So I sprayed, but of course, the damage is done. Actually, I did spray a few weeks ago, but didn't notice they were back.

All week long, I've been picking up half eaten tomatoes off the ground. Initially, it was only Sungold, which I'm not too crazy about so that was okay, and Break O Day. I thought the little buggers had a fondness for certain types only. WRONG. Last night I had a Sandul Muldovan ripening as well as a few dwarf tomatoes Today, I saw, they were still on the vine, with bites taken out. Forget about eating that Vorlon that was almost ripe, and the Stump of the World too. Break O Day was a little acidic so I didn't mind them eating that one, and I even left one on the ground for them! But nope, they decided to go postal on me. Everything is fair game. They still enjoy the sungolds and I find the skins in crumbles here and there (easy to spot with that bright yellow orange color), but now they aren't just eating what's low to the ground, they are climbing!

I spent today picking anything that had even a "hint" of blush before they get to it, but I am finding daily damages and it's not pretty.

Will covering the tomatoes (individually or clusters) with reemay or something help?

Cole_Robbie · July 29, 2012

Do mean that you have worms and varmints? The other damage sounds like deer. Look for hoof prints.

Worth1 · July 30, 2012

Sounds like varmints to me.
Pointing out the obvious.

Worth

NGGrant · July 30, 2012

My mom has Minks eating her tomatoes that she put on her dock to get them away from the deer. LOL sometimes you just can't win.

lakelady · July 30, 2012

Yes I have both, unfortunately.

Chip & Dale gave up the ghost last night. 3 more will join them today. Still haven't seen my little orange friend and he is usually all over the place getting fatter by the day.

lakelady · July 30, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by NGGrant

My mom has Minks eating her tomatoes that she put on her dock to get them away from the deer. LOL sometimes you just can't win.

We have minks too, down by the lake. I thought they were carnivores?

lakelady · July 31, 2012

LOL!! cute! Good to know I don't have to add another varmint to my list

Worth1 · July 31, 2012

Attachment 27388

Speaking of varmints

Worth

Worth1 · July 31, 2012

Geese and babies.
Attachment 27389

Worth

jennifer28 · July 31, 2012

Well I had a long discussion with my neighbor about varmits today. She cracks me up. We had a disagreement the other day because she called the cowlicks brandywine plant that I gave her "defective." But that's another story.
I told her I was going to shoot the squirrels and she protested so much that I talked her into trapping them for me with her have a heart traps. So that settles that. I thought that was nice of her. The whole thing surprised me because sometimes we go to the range together and she is a much better shot than me and actually has a decent collection of firearms. I believe she is originally from Texas. I'm still surprised she didnt want me shooting pellets or bebe's at the squirrels.

jennifer28 · July 31, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

Attachment 27388

Speaking of varmints

Worth

I suppose that varmit would be easy to catch with some heirloom tomatoes in a have a heart trap.

tjg911 · July 31, 2012

Antoniette,

what is eating your tomatoes? i never see worms (caterpillars really - worms are in the soil) in the fruits but my issue is tomato horn worms. i just sprayed bt, done. once they eat foliage with bt on it they stop feeding and die. rain washes it off so i sprayed on saturday and it rained 2 hours later, if the cats ate any sprayed leaves then i'm ok but as a precaution i resprayed monday. thw eat any tomato and like them green not ripening.

tom

tjg911 · July 31, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

Attachment 27388

Speaking of varmints

Worth

now that's a varmint!

tom

lakelady · August 1, 2012

Tom, I think they are a variety of armyworm. They make a pea sized hole in the tomato and hunker down inside them. Eventually the tomato rots. I only found a few rotten, but several others with holes. I had sprayed SPinosad a while ago, but didn't keep up with it as I didn't see any signs of them. Some of my plants are so thick and dense with foliage, it was easy to miss them.

Well, the deer can't get to where the lakeside garden is and they have visited my main garden and not touched a tomato. It has to be chipmunks, who I have caught red handed, or something else. You would not believe how many tomatoes chipmunks can eat! holy cow. I even left them the really badly catfaced fruit and several tomatoes would be gone in the course of a day. They eat more than I do! Forget about cherries, none of those near the bottom of the plants had a chance. They are such destructive things. I got 5 yesterday so we'll see if I get any tonight, I'll know by morning. Last year between my neighbor and I, we couldn't believe how many there were and how many we caught. A lot of rabbits this year too, I think the coyote population is down over here, no one has seen any this year in the neighborhood, nor the foxes. But somehow, the chipmunk population is always booming around here....

I used to think they were so cute until I realized they are just rats that are fuzzier. ugh.

Worth1 · August 1, 2012

Deer are just goats with forked horns.

Worth

July 28, 2012	#1
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	Varmints! I'm borderline depressed. lol Yesterday, I found those ugly little tomato worms living inside about 7 tomatoes! They seem to like the plants with the dense foliage best. So I sprayed, but of course, the damage is done. Actually, I did spray a few weeks ago, but didn't notice they were back. All week long, I've been picking up half eaten tomatoes off the ground. Initially, it was only Sungold, which I'm not too crazy about so that was okay, and Break O Day. I thought the little buggers had a fondness for certain types only. WRONG. Last night I had a Sandul Muldovan ripening as well as a few dwarf tomatoes Today, I saw, they were still on the vine, with bites taken out. Forget about eating that Vorlon that was almost ripe, and the Stump of the World too. Break O Day was a little acidic so I didn't mind them eating that one, and I even left one on the ground for them! But nope, they decided to go postal on me. Everything is fair game. They still enjoy the sungolds and I find the skins in crumbles here and there (easy to spot with that bright yellow orange color), but now they aren't just eating what's low to the ground, they are climbing! I spent today picking anything that had even a "hint" of blush before they get to it, but I am finding daily damages and it's not pretty. Will covering the tomatoes (individually or clusters) with reemay or something help? __________________ Antoniette

July 30, 2012	#4
NGGrant Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Santa Cruz New Mexico Posts: 81	My mom has Minks eating her tomatoes that she put on her dock to get them away from the deer. LOL sometimes you just can't win. __________________ Nick.

July 30, 2012	#5
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	Yes I have both, unfortunately. Chip & Dale gave up the ghost last night. 3 more will join them today. Still haven't seen my little orange friend and he is usually all over the place getting fatter by the day. __________________ Antoniette

July 31, 2012	#7
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	LOL!! cute! Good to know I don't have to add another varmint to my list __________________ Antoniette

July 31, 2012	#8
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Attachment 27388 Speaking of varmints Worth Last edited by Worth1; November 17, 2012 at 06:42 PM.

July 29, 2012	#2
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Do mean that you have worms and varmints? The other damage sounds like deer. Look for hoof prints.

July 31, 2012	#10
jennifer28 Two-faced Drama Queen Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital Posts: 955	Well I had a long discussion with my neighbor about varmits today. She cracks me up. We had a disagreement the other day because she called the cowlicks brandywine plant that I gave her "defective." But that's another story. I told her I was going to shoot the squirrels and she protested so much that I talked her into trapping them for me with her have a heart traps. So that settles that. I thought that was nice of her. The whole thing surprised me because sometimes we go to the range together and she is a much better shot than me and actually has a decent collection of firearms. I believe she is originally from Texas. I'm still surprised she didnt want me shooting pellets or bebe's at the squirrels.

July 31, 2012	#12
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	Antoniette, what is eating your tomatoes? i never see worms (caterpillars really - worms are in the soil) in the fruits but my issue is tomato horn worms. i just sprayed bt, done. once they eat foliage with bt on it they stop feeding and die. rain washes it off so i sprayed on saturday and it rained 2 hours later, if the cats ate any sprayed leaves then i'm ok but as a precaution i resprayed monday. thw eat any tomato and like them green not ripening. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

August 1, 2012	#14
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	Tom, I think they are a variety of armyworm. They make a pea sized hole in the tomato and hunker down inside them. Eventually the tomato rots. I only found a few rotten, but several others with holes. I had sprayed SPinosad a while ago, but didn't keep up with it as I didn't see any signs of them. Some of my plants are so thick and dense with foliage, it was easy to miss them. Well, the deer can't get to where the lakeside garden is and they have visited my main garden and not touched a tomato. It has to be chipmunks, who I have caught red handed, or something else. You would not believe how many tomatoes chipmunks can eat! holy cow. I even left them the really badly catfaced fruit and several tomatoes would be gone in the course of a day. They eat more than I do! Forget about cherries, none of those near the bottom of the plants had a chance. They are such destructive things. I got 5 yesterday so we'll see if I get any tonight, I'll know by morning. Last year between my neighbor and I, we couldn't believe how many there were and how many we caught. A lot of rabbits this year too, I think the coyote population is down over here, no one has seen any this year in the neighborhood, nor the foxes. But somehow, the chipmunk population is always booming around here.... I used to think they were so cute until I realized they are just rats that are fuzzier. ugh. __________________ Antoniette Last edited by lakelady; August 1, 2012 at 12:07 AM.

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