OK... I finally realize that I just can't do it on my own

[bydsign]

I tried to cultivate my garden using no pesticides or herbicides
but the pests were getting the best of my plants (and depriving
me of tasty tomato treats ).


I now use the Daconil twice a month and my plants look a
lot better for it.

So...

what do I use to combat caterpilla's?



I will be growing about 15 varieties eventually.



byDsign... sad 'cuz she can't eat straight from the garden anymore

[Mischka]

I recommend dusting your plants with any of the commercial preparations of BT (Bacillus thuringiensis).

The BT bacterium produces a crystal protein toxin that kills the cells lining the insect's gut. When ingested by caterpillars the BT bacterial cell wall is digested, which releases this toxin.

Insects have guts that are only one cell layer thick and the toxin literally "eats" a hole in the gut, causing an fatal rupture inside the body of the caterpillar.

The interesting fact about BT is that only certain insects digest and are affected by these protein toxins. In most insects, as well as birds, fish, reptiles, humans and other mammals, the BT proteins have virtually zero toxicity level.

[bcday]

If you want a butterfly garden with host plants for butterfly larvae, it's a good idea to try to avoid using BT for hornworms because it will kill other caterpillars too.

I hand-pick hornworms because of that. I happen to like black swallowtails, and their larvae feed on parsley, dill, fennel, celery, and related plants growing near the tomatoes, that might get a dose of the BT.

There are many butterflies whose larvae inhabit common garden plants. If the BT spray drift lands on their host plants, you may kill those butterfly larvae too without ever knowing they were there.

There are several kinds of BT available. The ones used for other insect pests such as mosquitoes and beetles are not toxic to butterfly larvae.

[feldon30]

BT is one of the main weapons in organic, non-pesticide using farmers and gardeners. You can use it guilt-free.

By the way, Surround, a clay-like spray-on barrier to boring insects (especially squash vine borers) is, I believe, also considered organic.

[bydsign]

A butterfly garden is not my goal at all.

I wanna produce as many tomatoes as I can in my little
urban backyard container garden.

There's plenty more gardens/greenery around the development
for the butterflies. But I'm one of the few growing tomatoes
in abundance. 8)

[bydsign]

Thanks for all the input!

Do I simply go to Home Depot/Lowe's and ask for BT?


Had to do a Google search to see what BT was. For others
who may not know, I found this link...

http://www.ehow.com/how_9366_control...hornworms.html

[shelleybean]

Bt is sometimes sold as Dipel Dust, too. You can usually find it any garden center or hardware store.